Amidst the ongoing surge in AI technologies and the substantial expansion of data centers by global tech leaders, there has been a notable uptick in demand for storage chips, resulting in a pronounced scarcity of commercial solid-state drives (SSDs).
According to recent reports from South Korean media sources, the market has witnessed indications of shortages in enterprise-grade SSDs over the past 2-3 weeks. Samsung Electronics, a prominent player in this domain, is poised to implement a significant price hike of 25% for its commercial SSDs in the second quarter of this year. This strategic move aims to counteract the prevailing trend of price declines experienced since 2023.
Originally planning for a quarterly price increase of approximately 15%, Samsung found itself compelled to revise its strategy due to unexpectedly robust demand, necessitating a more substantial price adjustment. With its commanding market share of about 50% in the enterprise SSD sector, Samsung's pricing decisions carry considerable weight in the industry.
Meanwhile, major global tech entities such as NVIDIA, Tesla, and Meta are actively driving advancements in AI technologies, prompting leading server manufacturers like Dell and HPE to intensify their procurement of SSDs.
A knowledgeable source within the semiconductor industry highlighted that server providers are swiftly placing urgent orders to expand their storage capacities. This surge in demand has led to shortages in certain SSD products, compelling manufacturers to contemplate ramping up production to meet market needs.