Memory Chip Prices Up 4th Month, DRAM Soars 50%

In July 2025, prices for DRAM and NAND flash memory soared once again, continuing a strong upward trend that has lasted for four consecutive months.

According to data from DRAMeXchange, the average fixed price of mainstream PC DRAM (DDR4 8Gb 1Gx8) reached $3.90, representing a sharp 50% month-over-month increase. This follows significant monthly gains of 22.22% in April, 27.27% in May, and 23.81% in June.

This marks the highest DRAM pricing level since October 2021, when prices were $3.71. The market had previously faced steep declines in September (-17.07%) and November 2024 (-20.59%) before stabilizing and rebounding in 2025.

Analysts attribute the current surge to a combination of reduced output of legacy DDR4 chips and early purchasing momentum from PC makers preparing for peak demand. TrendForce notes that the top three memory producers—Samsung Electronics, SK hynix, and Micron—have prioritized server DRAM production, tightening the availability of PC DRAM.

With DDR4 prices now surpassing DDR5 by about 4% in Q3, the traditional pricing hierarchy has flipped. Industry experts point out that DDR4 is nearing the end of its product lifecycle, and decreased production is driving prices higher.

NAND flash memory also saw continued gains. The average fixed price for general-purpose NAND (128Gb 16Gx8 MLC), typically used in memory cards and USB drives, rose 8.67% in July to $3.39. NAND prices, which declined steadily in late 2024, began rebounding in January 2025 and have now increased for seven straight months.