Qian Zhan Wang·2025-11-19 06:51Core Viewpoint - The global storage chip price surge, driven by AI computing demand, is pushing the smartphone industry into a dilemma, with manufacturers facing supply chain pressures and rising costs [2][9]. Group 1: Industry Overview - Starting in the second half of 2025, a significant price increase in global storage chips is expected, primarily due to the surge in AI computing demand [2]. - Major smartphone manufacturers like Xiaomi, OPPO, and vivo are experiencing inventory levels below the two-month safety line, with some DRAM stocks even less than three weeks [2]. - Upstream suppliers such as Micron, Samsung, and SK Hynix are reportedly increasing prices by nearly 50%, forcing manufacturers to make tough decisions between accepting price hikes or risking supply shortages [2]. Group 2: Company Responses - Xiaomi has already felt the impact of rising costs, with the Redmi K90 standard version priced at 2599 yuan, a 300 yuan increase from the previous K80 model [3]. - Xiaomi executives have publicly warned about the storage cost crisis, with forecasts indicating that storage costs will continue to rise significantly in the coming year [3][9]. - The storage chip industry is characterized by high technical and capital intensity, leading to a market dominated by major players like Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron [3]. Group 3: Market Dynamics - The global storage chip market is highly concentrated, with Samsung holding a 43.03% share in the DRAM sector and 34% in NAND [7]. - Morgan Stanley highlights that upstream manufacturers like SK Hynix and Samsung will benefit from profit margin expansion due to their strong pricing power, while downstream sectors, including PCs and smartphones, will face severe cost pressures [9]. - The ongoing price surge has forced smartphone manufacturers into a dilemma of maintaining supply or protecting profit margins, with Xiaomi's price adjustment reflecting the collective challenges faced by the industry [9].