Core Viewpoint - South Korean memory manufacturers Samsung and SK Hynix have proposed a price increase of 60% to 70% for server DRAM compared to Q4 of last year, driven by anticipated supply shortages and increased demand from major cloud service providers like Microsoft and Google [1][3]. Group 1: Price Increase and Market Dynamics - Samsung and SK Hynix are currently negotiating with clients to raise server DRAM prices significantly due to expected supply shortages [1]. - The focus of memory chip manufacturers has shifted towards producing HBM3E for AI acceleration cards, limiting the supply of server DRAM [1]. - The demand for DRAM is surging as companies like Google and Microsoft expand their AI inference businesses, contributing to the price increase [1]. Group 2: Competition Among Tech Giants - A "DRAM supply war" has erupted among major tech companies, with procurement officials from firms like Amazon and Google actively seeking long-term supply agreements in South Korea [3]. - Apple is reportedly in intense negotiations with Samsung and SK Hynix to secure DRAM supplies for its products, as its existing long-term supply agreement is set to expire [3]. - The cost of 12GB LPDDR5X DRAM for Apple has risen to $70, marking a 230% increase since early 2025 [3]. Group 3: Impact on Consumer Electronics - The price hike in DRAM is significantly increasing costs for smartphone and PC manufacturers, with the share of storage chips in smartphone costs rising from approximately 15% to over 20% [4]. - As a result of rising storage costs, companies like Xiaomi, OPPO, and Vivo have raised prices for new models by 100 to 600 yuan [4]. - The PC market is also facing challenges, with manufacturers like Dell announcing price increases of 10% to 30% for commercial PCs [6]. Group 4: Market Forecasts - Market research firm Counterpoint Research predicts a 2.1% decline in global smartphone shipments in 2026 [4]. - TrendForce has revised its forecast for global laptop shipments in 2026 to a decrease of 5.4%, with potential for a larger decline [6]. - Citibank forecasts Samsung Electronics' operating profit to reach 150 trillion won in 2026, a 253% increase from last year [7].
苹果谷歌挤爆当地酒店?韩国存储双雄被曝涨价70%
Guan Cha Zhe Wang·2026-01-06 10:07