Memory Prices Soar: DDR4 Up 1800% into 2026

Ongoing shortages and supply chain adjustments have pushed memory chip spot prices to unprecedented levels over the past year. Since late 2024, the price of DDR4 16Gb memory has surged by around 1,800%, marking one of the steepest increases seen in the memory market in recent years. While buying activity eased slightly toward the end of 2025, market watchers widely expect the strong upward price trend to extend into 2026.

Throughout 2025, prices for both DRAM and NAND flash components climbed rapidly, driven by tight availability and sustained demand from server and data center applications. Spot prices for memory modules rose sharply, particularly in the second half of the year. Even as downstream segments such as consumer electronics showed signs of weakening demand, contract pricing remained firm, adding significant cost pressure for device makers.

In December 2025, DDR5 16Gb spot prices rose about 16% month over month, following a sharp 50% jump in November, with average prices reaching roughly USD 28 per module. DDR4 memory continued to see strong gains as well, with 16Gb and 8Gb modules climbing to around USD 62 and above USD 23 respectively—both up about 46% from November levels. Although December’s increases were lower than the 50–60% spikes recorded earlier, they still confirmed the ongoing upward momentum in DDR4 pricing.

NAND flash wafer prices also continued to rise in December. For example, 512Gb wafers increased from about USD 5 in October 2025 to USD 9 in November, then climbed further to around USD 11 by mid-December, representing a monthly increase of more than 20%. This sustained rise reflects tighter upstream output management, as capacity and supply structures were adjusted to keep inventories under control.

Across the industry, these supply-side constraints have reduced inventory levels for some end customers, helping prices stay elevated. Market participants note that while the pace of price increases has been exceptional, careful assessment of future purchasing capacity remains essential amid ongoing uncertainty and shifting demand patterns.

Data from DIGITIMES Research shows that between late 2024 and December 2025, DDR5 16Gb spot prices jumped by more than 500%, rising from USD 4.6 to USD 28. Over the same period, DDR4 16Gb prices soared by about 1,800%, increasing from roughly USD 3.2 to above USD 62. NAND flash wafer prices also climbed by more than 300%, moving from USD 2.48 per wafer to around USD 11.

Price fluctuations in December 2025 were relatively moderate compared with previous months, largely due to typical year-end inventory adjustments and cash flow management ahead of the Lunar New Year. These factors reduced spot market activity but did not change the overall upward pricing trend.

Looking ahead, forecasts suggest that continued supply–demand imbalances will push contract prices higher in the first quarter of 2026, with expected increases of 30% to 40%. DDR5 RDIMM pricing is projected to rise by more than 40%, while NAND flash is expected to post double-digit percentage gains. Enterprise SSD prices are also forecast to increase by 20% to 30%, as some NAND vendors that made only modest price adjustments in late 2025 are expected to implement more aggressive hikes in the following quarter.

Price growth is expected to slow in the second half of 2026 but remain at historically high levels, with no sharp declines anticipated. Until at least mid-2026, industry players are likely to continue operating in an environment marked by tight availability and elevated cost pressure.