Global memory chip market to quadruple in 2026: data - MSN

According to industry data, the global memory chip market is expected to more than quadruple in 2026 compared to the previous year, driven by increasing investment in artificial intelligence (AI) infr... Read original →

The AI infrastructure boom is thrusting memory chips from supporting actors to center stage in semiconductors. Technically, HBM3E and CXL adoption are accelerating DRAM scaling to 1β/1γ nodes while pushing NAND beyond QLC toward PLC for large-model training workloads. Compliance risks are surging: U.S. export controls on advanced packaging tools are disrupting HBM expansion plans by Korean and Taiwan, China-based firms, forcing supply chain reconfiguration and adding 15–20% capex overhead. Market rivalry is intensifying—Samsung paused Xi’an NAND expansions to prioritize Pyeongtaek HBM lines; SK hynix is locking in CoWoS-L partnerships with NVIDIA; Micron leverages CHIPS Act subsidies to reshore Arizona capacity. Over the next 18 months, server memory’s 56% revenue share is just the beginning. The real tailwind lies in the ‘Memory Wall’ becoming AI’s critical bottleneck—firms mastering 3D stacking and near-memory computing will dictate next-gen semiconductor leadership.