Memory Chip Shortage Expected to Intensify Through 2027

Leading memory Chip manufacturers—Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron—have reportedly sold out their entire production capacity for 2027, according to internal industry sources cited by Taiwanese media DigiTimes.

Global Demand Driven by AI

The shortage, primarily impacting consumer electronics, is fueled by high demand for artificial intelligence (AI) applications. Companies are prioritizing high-performance memory for data centers over consumer RAM.

Limited Supply Forecast

Manufacturers anticipate only being able to meet 60% of the demand by the end of 2027. ADATA Chairman Chen Li-bai noted that HBM and AI-related server applications will account for nearly 70% of DRAM capacity.

NAND Flash Market Also Tightening

NAND flash memory, used in SSDs and M.2 drives, is also experiencing a tightening supply, with production sales for 2027 expected to close by the end of August. Samsung, Micron, and SanDisk have already sold their annual NAND production, with Kioxia and SK Hynix slated to follow suit.

Significant Demand Growth Predicted

SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won forecasts a 60% to 100% increase in AI semiconductor demand in 2027 compared to 2026, alongside a 50% to 60% global storage demand growth.

Long-Term Supply Agreements

Memory manufacturers are securing five-year supply agreements to address the anticipated shortfall. The shortage is already impacting the tech industry, exemplified by increased Xbox console prices, high Steam Machine costs, and delayed MacBook Air releases.

GPU Price Increases

High-performance GPUs, such as the NVIDIA RTX 5090, are currently exceeding €5,200 in some retailers.