Samsung Electronics has significantly raised DRAM prices for two consecutive quarters, reflecting the profound reshaping of the memory chip market by the AI infrastructure investment boom.
According to a report by South Korea's Electronic News, Samsung Electronics has concluded negotiations with major customers on second-quarter DRAM supply prices and signed contracts, with an increase of approximately 30% over first-quarter levels. This price hike covers High Bandwidth Memory (HBM) as well as general-purpose DRAM products for servers, PCs, and mobile devices, representing an average comprehensive increase. Previously, Samsung had already raised its average DRAM prices by about 100% in the first quarter.
An industry insider familiar with the matter stated, &#34;A large number of customers are still scrambling to lock in DRAM supply in advance, allowing the company to further raise prices on top of the first-quarter levels,&#34; and noted that &#34;with AI demand at the core, there are currently no signs of price stabilization or decline.&#34; Based on this calculation, if early 2025 DRAM prices are taken as the benchmark, after two rounds of price increases, the second-quarter supply price is already 2.6 times the benchmark.
The market's perception that &#34;today is the cheapest&#34; has not changed, but the slope of the price increase has slowed—the second-quarter rise is significantly lower than the doubling seen in the first quarter. Supply and demand dynamics in the third quarter will be the key variable in determining the future direction of DRAM prices.
<h2>Root Cause: HBM Expansion Squeezes General DRAM Supply</h2>
The direct driver of this sustained upward trend in DRAM prices is the explosive growth in demand for AI accelerators.
As major tech companies accelerate the construction of AI server infrastructure, demand for HBM is climbing rapidly in tandem. Major memory manufacturers such as Samsung Electronics are tilting their production capacity toward HBM, leading to a tightening of general DRAM supply, which in turn has triggered a sharp rise in prices.
Another industry insider remarked, &#34;The willingness of big tech companies to expand AI servers and other infrastructure remains unchanged, and demand for high-performance DRAM and HBM remains solid,&#34; adding that &#34;competition for long-term contracts to secure stable DRAM supply is also intensifying.&#34;
<h2>Clear Differentiation Between High-End and Legacy Products</h2>
The price increase trend is not monolithic.
Data from the Taiwan-based market research firm DRAMeXchange shows that as of the end of March, the average fixed transaction price for PC DRAM products (DDR4 8Gb) remained flat compared to the previous month, with the price rally for some legacy products entering a phase of temporary calm.
However, prices for next-generation DRAM such as DDR5 and server-grade memory products continue to rise steadily, and market demand for high-end products remains robust. The industry generally believes that the price hike cycle for high-specification products has not yet ended.
<h2>SK Hynix and Micron Expected to Follow with Synchronized Hikes</h2>
As the world's largest DRAM manufacturer, Samsung Electronics has taken the lead by securing a 30% price hike, which is expected to have a ripple effect across the entire industry.
Reportedly, SK Hynix and Micron will also proceed with second-quarter DRAM supply at similar levels and have engaged in detailed negotiations with customers regarding the magnitude of the increases and contract structures.
The synchronized steps of the three major memory giants mean that downstream buyers will face further mounting price pressure and shrinking bargaining power.
The market's biggest uncertainty currently centers on the third quarter.
Samsung Electronics and other major memory manufacturers have not yet seen a significant leap in DRAM production capacity, meaning that AI-driven demand will remain the core factor dictating price trends.
If AI infrastructure investment maintains its current intensity while supply expansion lags, the upward price trend is likely to persist; conversely, if there is a marginal softening in demand, the price hike cycle may be tested.

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"Today is always the cheapest day." Using early 2025 DRAM prices as a benchmark, after two rounds of price hikes, the supply price in the second quarter has reached 2.6 times the benchmark level

- Samsung Electronics has raised DRAM prices by approximately 30% for Q2, following a 100% increase in Q1, driven by surging demand for AI infrastructure.  
- The tightening supply of general DRAM, prompted by a shift toward high-bandwidth memory (HBM) production, indicates that demand for high-performance DRAM is robust and competitors are seeking long-term contracts.  
- The pricing dynamics in Q3 are uncertain, hinging on the balance between AI-driven demand and supply expansion; sustained high investment could continue the price increase trend.

AI Demand Provides Continuous Support: Samsung's Q2 DRAM Prices Rise Another 30% After Doubling in Q1