If you thought memory prices couldn’t climb higher, think again. The latest reports indicate that major providers like Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix are raising their prices for DRAM and NAND flash memory by up to 30% in the fourth quarter of this year. This price hike is largely attributed to growing demand in the semiconductor industry, particularly driven by the escalating AI sector.

According to sources, the shortage of memory supplies could persist for three to four years, further fuelling price increases. The high bandwidth memory (HBM) sector is projected to significantly expand, potentially reaching $100 billion by 2030.

Currently, big AI firms are placing substantial orders for memory, ramping up demand for both DRAM and NAND used in their data centers. This trend has been paralleled by significant investments from countries like the UK into AI infrastructure, involving partnerships with tech giants such as Nvidia and Microsoft.

As memory prices surge, not only will this impact large customers but may also affect consumer prices for desktop memory. If you’re considering upgrading your RAM, it might be prudent to make a purchase soon, especially with Black Friday approaching.