Micron DDR4 Surges 50% as Samsung Ends Production

According to recent industry insights, DDR4 memory prices saw a significant spike in June, with Micron Technology's DDR4 modules—both 8Gb and 16Gb variants—experiencing a price increase of up to 50%. The strong momentum in spot market pricing has led to widespread volatility, reflecting growing uncertainty in the memory supply chain.

Insiders reveal that Samsung Electronics has officially announced plans to phase out DDR4 production by the end of this year, with final order deadlines set for early June. As a result, DDR4 inventory from Samsung is becoming increasingly scarce across the market. Spot pricing for Samsung's 8Gb DDR4 chips has already reached $4.80, a sharp rise compared to the recent average of approximately $3.30.

Meanwhile, Micron has not yet released a definitive end-of-life schedule for DDR4 products. However, robust demand from industrial control applications—combined with tightening supply—has intensified market pressure. Spot prices for 16Gb DDR4 chips have climbed to $6.00, notably exceeding current DDR5 equivalents, which average around $5.80.

According to market research firm TrendForce, the DDR4 generation has now surpassed a decade in its lifecycle, with DDR5 gradually taking over. Newer memory technologies such as HBM, DDR5, and LPDDR5(X) offer significantly higher profit margins, prompting major memory manufacturers to prioritize these next-generation solutions. Most suppliers are now planning to conclude DDR4 shipments by early 2026.

Since Q2 2023, demand for standard server builds from cloud service providers has remained steady. Furthermore, the rise of AI-related applications has boosted the need for storage-optimized servers, driving additional DDR4 procurement. With reduced DDR4 output from key memory makers and tariff-related early purchasing in the U.S., DDR4 prices for server and PC segments are projected to increase by 18–23% and 13–18% respectively this quarter.

Looking ahead to Q3, TrendForce anticipates that ongoing supply reductions from major manufacturers, coupled with preemptive purchasing behavior, may drive contract prices even higher—potentially surpassing earlier forecasts. Although DDR5 adoption is accelerating, the transition is not yet complete, and DDR4 is expected to face continued supply-demand imbalances in the near term.