DRAM production capacity to remain strained for most of 2018

The pricing of memory modules shot up significantly this year to due an imbalance between supply and demand. Unfortunately, it seems the new year will not bring much improvement on this front. A new report from DRAMeXchange claims the tight supply conditions from 2017 will persist for much of 2018, as DRAM makers plan just limited capacity increases.

Increased output will come mainly from optimizations to the process flow in existing fabs, and the deployment of next-gen manufacturing technology. Furthermore, DRAM makers are expected to shift more production capacity to the more lucrative server DRAM segment, which will put further strain on the supply of memory for the consumer market.

DRAMeXchange predicts mobile DRAM prices will rise 10-15 percent this quarter:

Typical electronics industry seasonal headwinds should ease the strain on the DRAM supply in the first quarter of 2018, but not enough to significantly impact the overall market demand or result in price declines, according to DRAMeXchange.

DRAMeXchange also said that prices for mobile DRAM chips are forecast to rise 10 to 15 percent in the fourth quarter, outgrowing the overall DRAM market, as OEMs ramp up production of smartphones. The expected increase will move mobile DRAM prices past PC DRAM prices for the first time this year, the firm said.