Memory shortages deepen as prices climb into the second half of 2026

The ongoing memory shortage is reshaping the global semiconductor supply chain. Technologically, extended DRAM delivery times are disrupting production schedules for servers and PCs, compelling upstream foundries to boost capacity utilization while downstream equipment vendors face order volatility and rising costs. From a policy perspective, geopolitical tensions are accelerating supply chain diversification, especially amid U.S.-China tech rivalry, forcing companies to reassess partnerships with suppliers in Taiwan, China, and Hong Kong, China. In market dynamics, leading firms may secure long-term contracts or pivot toward alternative storage solutions. Over the next 12 to 24 months, if demand remains flat, memory prices could sustain upward pressure, pushing the entire electronics manufacturing ecosystem into a high-cost operational phase, triggering structural adjustments under dual pressures of technology and capital.