Overview
- Industry reporting says memory makers will meet only about 60% of global DRAM demand by the end of 2027, pointing to a multi‑year shortfall.
- Most new capacity from Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron will not reach full output until 2027 or later, with SK Hynix’s Cheongju HBM plant that opened in February the lone 2026 boost among the big three.
- Manufacturers are prioritizing high‑bandwidth memory used in AI chips, and major AI buyers are pre‑booking future supply, which leaves fewer general‑purpose modules for PCs and phones.
- Analysts estimate output needs to rise about 12% per year through 2027 to catch up, yet current plans point to roughly 7.5% growth, keeping supply tight.
- Rising memory costs are pushing up device prices, and IDC projects a 13% drop in 2026 smartphone production as memory takes a larger share of low‑end phone build costs.