Memory price skyrockets as demand for AI data centers drives 369% year-over-year surge
Memory makers aren't selling much more; they're charging much more.
Global DRAM revenue jumped 369% year over year in Q3 2026 to nearly $200 billion, driven by soaring demand for AI data centers, according to Counterpoint Research. The surge in prices, rather than volume, is the primary cause, as shipments increased only about 4%. Samsung, SK hynix, and Micron reported record profits, while phone and PC shipments declined around 20%.
The price of a single 16Gb DDR5 chip rose from $8.70 in October 2025 to $48 in September 2026, representing an increase of over 450%. HBM4 prices are also projected to reach $4 per gigabit. The memory industry is transitioning from a commodity to a scarce resource as AI demand escalates, causing memory makers to charge a significant premium over previous pricing.
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