Overview
- Industry reports say global DRAM output will meet only about 60% of demand by the end of 2027, pointing to a multi‑year shortfall.
- Most new memory plants will not reach full mass production until 2027–2028, with companies signaling limited relief this year.
- Manufacturers are prioritizing high‑bandwidth memory for AI data centers, which leaves fewer standard DRAM chips for PCs and phones.
- Counterpoint Research estimates the market needs roughly 12% annual output growth to balance supply, yet current plans target about 7.5%.
- Prices jumped an estimated 90% quarter over quarter in the first quarter of 2026, and device makers may raise retail prices or cut default memory to cope.