Over the past year or so, generative AI and large-scale model training have sparked a 'memory buying frenzy' in the semiconductor industry, leading to a rare surge in contract prices for non-volatile NAND flash memory and DRAM. Upstream manufacturers and investors have benefited as a result, but downstream complete machine (system integrators) and end consumers are facing significant cost pressures. Bloomberg, citing industry data, reported that since September 2025, NAND contract prices have accumulated an increase of over 600%, while DRAM contract prices have also risen nearly 400%. The market widely expects that this wave of price hikes driven by AI is unlikely to ease in the short term.
