Storage Industry Undergoes Multiple Transformations: Price Hikes, Shortages, and New Product Launches
Recently, the global storage industry has witnessed a flurry of developments. A combination of price surges, supply shortages, shifts in market structure, and new product releases has attracted widespread attention within the sector.
The upward trend in storage product prices is particularly prominent. Morgan Stanley points out that the industry has entered a “super upcycle,” with supply-demand imbalances driving prices to soar. For DDR4, the contract price in the first quarter of 2026 is expected to rise by over 100%. Among DDR4 products, the 16Gb model is facing the most severe shortage, with channel inventory nearly depleted and spot prices once reaching as high as $100. Due to adjustments on the supply side, NOR Flash prices are projected to increase by more than 20% in the same period, while MLC NAND is also poised for a price hike affected by production cuts. More critically, DRAM shortages will persist until the fourth quarter of 2027, leading to tight supply for products such as DDR4 and DDR5. The surge in demand from AI and data centers, along with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) shifting to high-margin sectors, are the primary drivers behind this shortage.
The market structure is undergoing a reshuffle. Samsung Electronics is expected to regain the top spot in the global DRAM market in the fourth quarter of 2024. Previously, Samsung temporarily fell behind in HBM (High-Bandwidth Memory) competitiveness and was overtaken by SK Hynix, marking the first time in 33 years that Samsung lost its leading position. As HBM supply resumes and general-purpose DRAM prices rise, Samsung—backed by its massive production capacity and high proportion of general-purpose DRAM sales—will fully benefit from the industry’s price uptrend. Meanwhile, while advancing advanced manufacturing processes, SK Hynix is also laying out plans for niche DRAM production. It intends to start manufacturing custom-specific products for South Korean Fabless companies from 2027 and may utilize the capacity of its Wuxi wafer fab to improve the utilization rate of older production lines.
New products have made their debut in the end-user market. Asgard has launched two limited-edition DDR5 memory kits, both using SK Hynix M-die chips. The Thor 马甲条 (Thor Heatsink Strip) Carbon Fiber Limited Edition offers a maximum configuration of 192GB, with timings of 28-36-36-72 and a price of 8,599 yuan. The Valkyrie II RGB Light Strip Racing Limited Edition boasts a top configuration of 256GB, timings of 32-45-45-90, and a price of 14,599 yuan. Both products are equipped with 10-layer thickened PCBs and high-performance PMIC chips. Additionally, the 256GB kit is fitted with a thickened heat sink and supports customizable RGB lighting effects.
In this round of industry transformation, the explosive growth in AI demand has emerged as a core driving force. It has not only boosted demand for high-end storage products but also put pressure on the supply of consumer-grade markets. For enterprises and consumers alike, it is essential to closely monitor market dynamics to cope with the impacts of price fluctuations and supply shortages. Looking ahead, as leading manufacturers adjust their production capacity and advance technological iterations, the storage industry is likely to embrace a new competitive landscape.