一盒近600万元，堪比一套房！记者实探深圳华强北存储市场，涨价预计将持续至2026年底

Core Viewpoint - The surge in prices of memory and storage hardware, driven by the explosive growth of AI technology, has led to significant market disruptions, with some products' prices reaching levels comparable to real estate in major cities [2][4]. Group 1: Price Surge and Market Impact - The price of a single 256G DDR5 server memory stick has approached 60,000 yuan, with a box of 100 sticks costing nearly 6 million yuan, equivalent to the price of a house in certain cities [2][4]. - Prices for memory products, including DDR4 and DDR5, have reportedly increased by three to four times over the past two months, with SSD prices also nearly doubling [3][4]. - The consumer market is feeling the impact, with users reporting significant price increases for memory sticks, such as a 16G DDR5 stick rising from 100 yuan to over 600 yuan [3][4]. Group 2: AI Demand and Hardware Requirements - The current surge in server memory prices is attributed to a historic upward cycle in the global server memory market, with DDR5 prices increasing over 300% since September 2025 [4][6]. - AI's demand for hardware has shifted from training to inference, requiring higher memory capacities and bandwidth, which has transformed memory into a critical resource for AI systems [6][10]. - AI servers require 8 to 10 times more memory than standard servers, leading to a prioritization of high-end production for AI applications, while traditional consumer electronics face significant pressure [6][10]. Group 3: Industry Dynamics and Future Outlook - The structural changes in demand are redistributing value and risk across the supply chain, with profits concentrating upstream and risks accumulating downstream [7][10]. - The high prices are creating a divide in the industry, where large AI companies can absorb costs while smaller firms struggle, accelerating internal industry differentiation [7][10]. - The price surge driven by AI demand is expected to continue until the end of 2026, with key indicators for a turning point including inventory turnover rates and advancements in production capabilities [9][10]. Group 4: Strategic Responses and Industry Evolution - Companies are advised to focus on "technical throttling" and "organizational open-source" strategies to mitigate costs, such as optimizing inference efficiency and building shared computing resources [9][10]. - Chinese storage companies like Changxin Storage are positioned to capitalize on the global supply chain shift, aiming to increase production capacity significantly by 2026 [10]. - The memory market is evolving into a critical component of AI infrastructure, with the potential for significant technological and market shifts as companies strive for efficiency and innovation [10].