According to a survey conducted by TrendForce, in the fourth quarter of 2025, global cloud service providers are expanding their data center capacities. This expansion will fuel a stronger upward trend in contract prices for Server DRAM. Consequently, it will drive up overall DRAM prices and heighten suppliers' inclination to increase their quotes. The research institution has adjusted its estimated price increase for general-purpose DRAM in the fourth quarter upward, projecting a range of 18% - 23%, with the potential for further upward revisions.

Looking ahead to 2026, the annual growth rate of server unit shipments is set to expand. Additionally, the DRAM capacity per unit will see an increase, which will spur growth in DRAM bit demand. Supply shortages are expected to persist, and DDR5 contract prices are predicted to rise throughout the year, with more pronounced increases anticipated in the first half.

Meanwhile, owing to the emergence of a competitive market landscape and the presence of buyer inventories, HBM3e contract prices are projected to decrease on an annual basis. Starting from the first quarter of 2026, the profits derived from DDR5 are expected to outperform those from HBM3e.