Global computer memory crisis may last until 2030, industry warns

The global market for computer memory could face a prolonged shortage in the coming years, with manufacturers expected to meet only about 60% of demand by the end of 2027. The imbalance between supply and consumption may persist until 2030, according to Nikkei Asia.

Experts say the industry would need annual capacity growth of around 12% in 2026–2027 to cover rising demand. However, current investment plans point to growth of only 7.5%, creating a structural gap between supply and demand.

Major market players such as Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, and Micron Technology continue to expand production capacity. At present, only SK Hynix has brought a new facility online, while additional capacity from other manufacturers is expected no earlier than 2027–2028.

An additional pressure factor is the reallocation of resources toward high-bandwidth memory (HBM), widely used in artificial intelligence infrastructure and data centers. Prioritising this segment could slow the recovery of traditional DRAM supply, which is widely used in consumer electronics, including PCs and smartphones.

By Jeyhun Aghazada