Samsung hikes memory chip prices by up to 60% (image credits: samsung.com)
Samsung’s memory price Surges by as much as 60% since September, according to a Reuters report published Friday [1]. The move marks one of the steepest short-term price increases in the DRAM market in years — and underscores how surging demand from AI data centers is straining global supply chains.
The world’s largest memory manufacturer, Samsung, is now commanding significantly higher contract prices from its customers for high-density server DRAM modules. For buyers across the PC, server, and IT hardware industries, the implications could be felt well into 2026.
A Rapid and Uneven Price Escalation
According to Reuters, Samsung’s contract pricing for a 32 GB DDR5 memory module climbed from roughly $149 in September to about $239 in November 2025 — a jump of more than 60 percent within just two months. Prices for other capacities, such as 16 GB and 128 GB modules, reportedly rose between 40 and 50 percent, while 64 GB and 96 GB units saw increases exceeding 30 percent [1].
A related analysis by Tom’s Hardware [2] noted that these hikes began in late summer, but accelerated rapidly as data center orders for AI workloads soaked up available capacity. By mid-November, contract pricing for several server-grade DRAM products had reached their highest levels since before the pandemic — effectively resetting the market baseline.
Samsung declined to comment publicly on the specific pricing changes. However, analysts cited by Reuters said the move reflects a combination of supply constraints, production prioritization for high-bandwidth memory (HBM), and a global inventory shortage among large buyers such as cloud providers and enterprise OEMs.
AI Infrastructure Boom Tightens Memory Supply
The primary catalyst behind the surge is the explosive growth of AI infrastructure.
Every new data center built for large language model (LLM) training or inference consumes vast quantities of DDR5 and HBM memory. With Nvidia’s latest AI accelerators and high-performance servers demanding larger and faster memory pools, suppliers are struggling to keep pace.
Samsung and its peers, SK hynix and Micron Technology, have redirected much of their fabrication capacity to high-end chips used in AI servers. While this shift yields higher margins, it leaves less capacity for traditional DRAM products that power laptops, desktops, and mainstream servers.
Industry observers describe the situation as a “perfect storm”:
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AI buildouts are pulling supply upward,
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consumer demand is recovering from its 2023 slump, and
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manufacturing utilization remains constrained by earlier capital-expenditure cuts.
As Tom’s Hardware summarized, “AI data center build-outs are strangling DRAM supply, forcing contract and spot prices upward across every segment of the market.” [2]
From Contract to Retail: Ripple Effects Emerging
Though the price spikes originated in the contract market, where major buyers negotiate directly with Samsung, Micron, and SK hynix, the effects are now filtering down into retail channels.
Independent market data from PCGamer and DRAMeXchange show that average retail prices for DDR5 kits have doubled year-over-year in late 2025, while even older DDR4 modules have risen 20–30 percent as manufacturers scale back production.
At the system-builder and reseller level, this means margins are tightening — and volatility is rising. Small and mid-sized refurbishers, OEMs, and IT resellers face growing challenges in predicting costs and sourcing reliable inventory.
For example, popular 32 GB DDR5-5600 desktop kits that sold for under $100 in early 2024 are now retailing closer to $180–$200, with some premium kits exceeding $250.
Market Forecast: Prices Likely to Stay Elevated Through 2026
Most analysts now expect the current price up-cycle to persist well into 2026, unless global DRAM output increases significantly. Industry tracker TrendForce predicts that total DRAM supply growth will remain in the single digits through next year [3], even as demand continues to accelerate from both AI and conventional server markets.
New DRAM Outlook
For new modules, current contract trends point toward a further 20–40 percent increase in early 2026 if capacity remains constrained. High-performance DDR5 modules — especially 64 GB and 128 GB configurations — are likely to remain scarce and expensive, while legacy DDR4 products could see incremental hikes as production lines are converted or retired.
Manufacturers are expected to maintain these elevated prices to recoup heavy losses incurred during the 2022–2023 memory downturn. With inventory pipelines thin and fabrication utilization near full, a meaningful price correction appears unlikely before late 2026.
Used and Refurbished DRAM Outlook
The secondary market for memory — including used, pulled, or refurbished modules — is already responding. Historically, used DRAM prices lag new DRAM prices by one or two quarters, but the current surge is compressing that gap.
As new-module prices soar, many resellers are holding existing stock longer, anticipating further gains. Prices for used DDR5 modules have risen 10–25 percent since September, and DDR4 resale values are also climbing. In certain capacities, the gap between new and used modules has narrowed to less than 15 percent, particularly in enterprise-grade 32 GB and 64 GB kits.
That dynamic may persist — or even intensify — if Samsung’s pricing strategy encourages other suppliers to follow suit.
What It Means for Buyers and Sellers
For system builders, data-center operators, and component resellers, this price environment requires careful planning. The combination of long lead times, thin inventory buffers, and steady demand growth means timing purchases strategically could be critical.
Businesses that rely on large-scale memory procurement may benefit from locking in supply contracts early, even at higher prices, to avoid potential shortages later in the cycle. Meanwhile, sellers in the secondary market have an opportunity to capture higher resale margins while demand for used memory remains strong.
For consumers and small IT operators, the key message is caution: expect sustained volatility in both retail and used-module pricing through at least mid-2026.
Conclusion: A Market Redefined by AI Demand
Samsung’s aggressive price moves have reshaped the dynamics of the memory industry almost overnight. The AI boom has not only transformed how chips are used but also how they are valued — elevating DRAM from a commodity component to a strategic bottleneck in the computing supply chain.
While manufacturers stand to profit from the rebound, buyers across every tier — from hyperscale data centers to local PC resellers — are being forced to adapt. Memory, once abundant and inexpensive, is entering a period of sustained scarcity and strategic importance.
At BuySellRAM.com, we do more than track the market — we empower our clients to act on it. Whether you’re looking to sell used RAM at peak value or lock in pricing on new DDR5 inventory, our real-time insights and supplier relationships give you the advantage.
DRAM prices may be volatile, but opportunities are everywhere for those who move early. Visit our Sell Serve RAM page to get an instant quote or explore our live market updates for new and used memory products.
Sources:
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Reuters: “Samsung hikes memory chip prices by up to 60% as shortage worsens, sources say,” Nov 14 2025.
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Tom’s Hardware: “Samsung raises memory chip prices by up to 60% since September as AI data-center buildout strangles supply,” Nov 2025.
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TrendForce DRAM Market Updates, Q4 2025.