What happens when Samsung delays RAM pricing?

3 November 2025 at 08:02

Samsung is a massive player in the memory market, and its sudden halting of DDR5 (RAM) contract pricing in October was the match that lit the fuse.

This move isn’t just some minor scheduling issue; it’s a major signal to the entire industry, and this disruption is expected to delay price announcements from everyone until mid-November.

When Samsung stopped giving out RAM pricing quotes, other major manufacturers quickly followed. Industry sources citing Digitimes (via Jukan) say SK Hynix and Micron have also seen this and did the same, withholding their contract pricing.

So, what does that mean?

It means the top three suppliers: Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron are tightening their RAM supply. The companies are now only giving quotes to their most important, long-term partners, which include the likes of Amazon and Google.

For everyone else, such as PC manufacturers, module makers, and smaller companies, the door to contract pricing slammed shut. If you urgently need memory, you’re forced to go to the “spot market,” and that’s where things get crazy.

The spot market reacted exactly as you would expect when supply dries up and demand is high; prices exploded.

DDR5: In just one week, DDR5 spot prices reportedly jumped 25%. Over the last month, DDR5 16Gb chips more than doubled, soaring 102% from around $7.68 to $15.5.

DDR4: With supply chains squeezed, DDR4 16Gb modules also climbed, with some scarce units hitting $27. Even mainstream DDR4 8Gb modules rose 60%.

Flash (SSDs): Flash wafer prices (what SSDs are made of) have also been climbing steadily.

Big tech companies like Amazon, Google, Meta, and Microsoft are pouring billions into expanding their AI capabilities. This AI boom requires enormous amounts of high-end memory, specifically DDR5 and HBM (High-Bandwidth Memory).

Image: Samsung Newsroom

Seeing this massive, profitable demand, memory makers like Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron are shifting their production to focus on these high-margin chips such as HBM. This creates a structural shortage for everyone else.

Projections suggest DDR5 prices will see “three consecutive jumps” through the first half of 2026, with quarterly increases between 30% and 50%. Samsung also hinted price jump in future products due to a component cost increase.