According to the latest market analysis by TrendForce, the global memory market is facing an unprecedented price surge. The research firm has drastically revised its forecast for the first quarter of 2026, predicting that contract prices for general-purpose Dynamic Random Access Memory, or DRAM, will rise by approximately 90 to 95 percent compared to the previous quarter. This new figure is a significant jump from the earlier prediction of a 55 to 60 percent increase.
Two primary factors are driving this explosive growth. First, the fourth quarter of 2025 saw an unexpected surge in personal computer shipments, leading to a rapid depletion of inventory among Original Equipment Manufacturers. As a result, these manufacturers are now aggressively restocking to secure their supply chains.
Second, the server market is witnessing intense competition. With the booming demand for artificial intelligence, major tech companies are engaging in a bidding war to secure server-grade memory. Consequently, semiconductor manufacturers are prioritizing the allocation of production capacity to high-margin server products. This strategic shift is severely squeezing the supply available for consumer electronics, such as smartphones and personal computers, creating a tighter bottleneck than previously anticipated.
As the industry grapples with these supply constraints, consumers and businesses alike should prepare for potential cost increases in electronic devices throughout the first half of 2026.
