Samsung expects the current shortage of DRAM and NAND memory to worsen in 2027. The company projects that the RAM shortage will persist until at least 2028.
The ongoing DRAM shortage has been a factor behind technology price hikes for approximately the last 16 months.
AI demand driving supply constraints
Demand from AI hyperscalers is primarily fueling the ongoing memory shortage. During its Q2 2026 earnings call, Samsung stated that AI companies and labs have been sharing their medium- to long-term demand forecasts directly with the company.
One-third of global memory chip supply
Samsung's share of the world's memory chip supply produced and sold.
Samsung's semiconductor division has achieved record sales and profit figures following the surge in AI-driven demand.
Impact on consumer electronics
Rising memory costs have pressured the profit margins of Samsung's Galaxy series smartphones and televisions. The company responded to these costs by increasing retail prices, which led to weakened demand for those product groups.
There are 'three to six months' before memory prices become even more extortionate.
— Valve's top Steam Machine engineers
Updates
DigiTimes industry insiders report that the three major DRAM and HBM producers have already sold out their entire 2027 production capacity, while Samsung Electronics, Micron, and SanDisk have fully booked their NAND production for 2026. Additionally, NAND Flash SSD media supply is expected to be fully booked before the end of August 2026, with Kioxia and SK Hynix expected to confirm their contracts by that time. All memory buyers have also reportedly agreed to an advance payment deposit model regardless of existing long-term agreements.
DigiTimes industry insider sources report that DRAM and HBM production capacity for the entirety of 2027 is already sold out, while NAND Flash SSD media supply is expected to be fully booked before the end of August 2026. Additionally, Samsung Electronics, Micron, and SanDisk have already exhausted their NAND production capacity for the year 2026. All memory buyers have reportedly agreed to an advance payment deposit model, regardless of any existing multi-year long-term agreements.
DigiTimes sources report that the three major DRAM and HBM producers have already sold out their entire 2027 production capacity, while Samsung, Micron, and SanDisk have exhausted their NAND production capacity for 2026. Additionally, NAND Flash SSD media supply is expected to be fully booked before the end of August 2026, and all memory buyers have reportedly agreed to an advance payment deposit model. Samsung officials further noted that the memory shortage in 2027 is expected to be significantly more severe than in 2026.
DigiTimes sources report that the three major DRAM and HBM producers have already sold out their entire 2027 production capacity, while Samsung, Micron, and SanDisk have exhausted their NAND production capacity for 2026. Additionally, NAND Flash SSD media supply is projected to be fully booked before the end of August 2026, with Kioxia and SK Hynix expected to confirm their contracts by that time. All memory buyers have also reportedly agreed to an advance payment deposit model, regardless of existing long-term agreements.
Industry sources report that DRAM and HBM production capacity for the entirety of 2027 is already sold out, while NAND Flash SSD media supply is expected to be fully booked before the end of August 2026. Furthermore, Samsung, Micron, and SanDisk have already exhausted their NAND production capacity for 2026. The market is shifting toward longer-term stability, with production agreements extending up to five years and all memory buyers adopting an advance payment deposit model.
Industry sources report that Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron have already sold out their entire DRAM and HBM production capacity for 2027, while NAND Flash SSD supply is expected to be fully booked before the end of August 2026. Additionally, Samsung has decided to commit 60% to 70% of its total capacity to long-term contracts of up to five years, marking a shift from previous short-term agreements. While Samsung officials warn that the 2027 shortage will be significantly more severe than in 2026, TrendForce suggests that relief in NAND memory may not arrive until the second half of 2027 and DRAM production increases may only occur in 2028.
The three major producers—Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron—have already sold out their entire production capacity for 2027, while Samsung, Micron, and SanDisk have exhausted their 2026 NAND capacity. Additionally, NAND Flash SSD media supply is expected to be fully booked before the end of August 2026, according to DigiTimes industry insider sources. TrendForce further suggests that relief in NAND memory may not arrive until the second half of 2027, with a significant increase in DRAM production potentially delayed until 2028.
Industry sources report that the three major DRAM and HBM producers have already sold out their entire production capacity for 2027, while Samsung, Micron, and SanDisk have exhausted their NAND production capacity for 2026. Additionally, NAND Flash SSD media supply is expected to be fully booked before the end of August 2026, with Gartner predicting that rising component costs will lead to an average 17% increase in computer prices.
New reports confirm that Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron have sold out 100% of their DRAM and HBM production capacity for 2027 — a more severe shortage than in 2026, as previously forecast — with NAND supply already fully booked before August 2026, and industry-wide contracts now extending up to five years, while DRAM and NAND prices surged 45% and 70% respectively in a single quarter, pushing computer prices up 17% and triggering the sharpest global shipment decline in a decade.
New reports confirm that Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron have sold out all DRAM and HBM production capacity for 2027 — a more severe shortage than in 2026, with NAND supply already fully booked before August 2026, while DRAM and NAND prices surged 45% and 70% respectively in a single quarter, and buyers now pay advance deposits even without long-term contracts, as AI-driven demand exhausts global supply and forces firms like Micron to shutter consumer brands and Apple to raise prices and offer pay-later options.
