Group 1 - The storage chip market is undergoing a significant transformation driven by AI, leading to a strong seller's market where buyers must accept unprecedented terms [1][3] - SanDisk has introduced a "100% cash prepayment" contract model, requiring clients to pay in full upfront to secure supply quotas for 1 to 3 years, breaking industry norms [3][4] - The demand for storage devices is being fueled by AI infrastructure development, prompting some cloud service providers to consider these stringent terms to avoid supply shortages [1][3] Group 2 - Prices for enterprise-level storage are surging, with SanDisk planning to increase prices for high-capacity 3D NAND flash chips used in enterprise SSDs by over 100% in March [1][4] - The demand for enterprise storage is significantly influenced by NVIDIA's ICMS platform, which requires substantial amounts of 3D NAND, potentially leading to increased consumption [4] - The production capacity of major storage manufacturers has shifted towards higher-margin HBM for AI applications, resulting in a reduction of capacity for standard DDR4/DDR5 and NAND production [4][5] Group 3 - The current supply crisis has led to chaos in the supply chain, with tech giants like Google and Meta seeking additional capacity and hiring specialized procurement managers [5] - Companies are stockpiling inventory to avoid price hikes and shortages, with Lenovo pre-ordering for 2026 to secure future demand [5] - The market is experiencing irregularities, including reports of bribery investigations at Samsung, highlighting unethical profit-seeking behaviors amid severe shortages [5]
闪迪：涨价，且必须全款