Memory Shortage Deepens as HBM Export Price Tops $70 - en.sedaily.com

The high-bandwidth memory (HBM) export price has surpassed $70 for the first time, signaling deepening global memory shortages. According to the Korea International Trade Association, the average expo... Read original →

The soaring HBM prices highlight the intense demand for high-bandwidth memory driven by AI accelerators, particularly NVIDIA’s next-gen chips pushing HBM4 into mass production. However, lower yields in HBM4 have increased DRAM consumption, deepening global shortages. Samsung and SK Hynix are ramping up production lines and exploring joint ventures in Japan to meet demand, despite long-term contracts failing to cover spot market gaps. The technical shift toward HBM4 signals a new era of memory-compute co-optimization, with DRAM shortages forcing manufacturers to boost process efficiency. Over the next 12–24 months, sustained AI growth may keep memory prices elevated, pushing firms to invest heavily in 2nm nodes. This shortage underscores the fragility of global semiconductor supply chains, especially amid geopolitical tensions, compelling companies to pursue localized and diversified sourcing strategies.