AI is sweeping across the world at an unprecedented pace. From training LLMs to powering ubiquitous generative AI applications, data has become the lifeblood of this technological revolution. The massive wave of data generated by AI is putting immense pressure on global data center infrastructure, especially in the storage domain, where a profound transformation is quietly taking place.

Traditionally, nearline HDDs have been the backbone of large-scale data storage. However, they are now facing an unprecedented supply crisis. At the same time, SSDs, long regarded as high-performance yet high-cost solutions, particularly high-capacity QLC SSDs, are being thrust into the spotlight.

This chain reaction, triggered by HDD shortages, is not merely a supply chain issue, it is a catalyst accelerating the rewriting of the storage market’s rules and signaling explosive growth for QLC SSDs in the coming years. This report delves into the causes, challenges, and future dynamics of this trend.

Key Highlights

• Rapid AI growth generates enormous data, stressing data center storage infrastructure.
• Traditionally dominant HDDs now encounter severe supply challenges.
• High-capacity QLC SSDs are gaining attention as high-performance alternatives.
• HDD shortages act as a catalyst, accelerating market rule changes and supporting future SSD expansion.

Table of Contents

1. HDD Supply Chain Crisis Drives a Surge in SSD Orders
2. Nearline HDD Shortages to Drive a Surge in QLC SSD Shipments by 2026
3. HDD Capacity Constraints: The Technical and Supply Chain Bottlenecks
4. Cost and Capacity Challenges in Replacing HDDs with QLC SSDs
   • Table 1: Comparison of SSD and HHD: Price, Maximum Capacity, and Lead Time
5. The Pricing Game: Buyers’ Threshold vs. Suppliers’ Strategy
6. Continued Optimization of QLC SSD Costs to Strengthen its Edge over HDDs
   • Table 2: 2024–2028 Enterprise SSD Bit Demand Growth and NAND Market Share
7. Diversified NAND Deployment in the AI Ecosystem to Drive Future Demand Growth
8. TRI’s View

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