According to the latest market intelligence from TrendForce, NAND Flash contract prices are projected to rise by approximately 10 to 15 percent quarter-over-quarter in the third quarter of 2026. While contract prices continue their upward trajectory, the rate of increase is expected to moderate compared to the gains observed in the second quarter due to sluggish consumer demand.
A clear divergence in demand dynamics is defining the current market landscape. Demand for enterprise solid state drives remains exceptionally robust, driven by infrastructure expansion in cloud computing and artificial intelligence workloads. Conversely, consumer electronics segments, including smartphones and personal computers, are experiencing a slowdown. High price levels and accumulated channel inventories have prompted consumer electronics manufacturers to adopt a cautious purchasing posture.
To address future long-term demand, major memory manufacturers are advancing greenfield investments to expand fabrication capacity. However, output from these new production facilities is not expected to make a meaningful contribution until 2028 or later. Consequently, tight supply-demand balance in the global NAND Flash market is anticipated to persist over the near-to-mid term.
