内存荒袭韩！企业扎堆卑微求货

Core Viewpoint - The memory market is experiencing a severe supply-demand imbalance due to the AI boom, leading to skyrocketing prices and significant shortages [1][2]. Group 1: Market Dynamics - Major suppliers Samsung and SK Hynix have raised contract prices by 50% to 60% during first-quarter negotiations, reflecting the intense demand for memory products [2]. - The average contract price of DRAM has surged from $1.40 per chip (8GB DDR4) in January last year to $9.30 in December, marking a significant milestone as it surpasses $9 for the first time in over seven years [4]. - The strong demand for high-bandwidth memory (HBM) is rapidly spreading to server DRAM, creating an unprecedented semiconductor market cycle [4][5]. Group 2: Competitive Behavior - Silicon Valley tech companies are sending procurement managers to South Korea to secure limited memory inventory, leading to a competitive "inventory grab" situation [2]. - The intense competition for memory products has led to industry insiders referring to these procurement managers as "memory beggars" due to their desperate attempts to secure supplies [1][2]. Group 3: Profitability Outlook - The significant price increases are expected to boost the operating profit margins of certain general-purpose memory products to 70%, with DDR5 potentially outperforming HBM3E in profitability [4]. - The overall performance of semiconductor manufacturers this year is anticipated to heavily rely on the sales momentum of general memory products [4].