The storage market has witnessed an unprecedented boom, fueled by the skyrocketing demand for AI servers. Traditional hard disk drives (HDDs) remain in severely short supply, with their delivery timelines stretching out to over two years. In response, cloud service providers are swiftly placing additional orders to acquire high-capacity enterprise-grade solid-state drives (SSDs). Notably, some original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) have already fully booked their QLC NAND Flash production capacity for 2026 well in advance.

According to supply chain insiders, cloud vendors are now compelled to join waiting lists for these in-demand products. The situation has been exacerbated by the centralized supply chain and the make-to-order nature of HDD production. To mitigate potential disruptions, several cloud vendors have opted to enter into long-term agreements with suppliers, securing their supply chains for 2026 and beyond.