Memory executives expect RAM shortage to continue through 2028

Key Points:

• Micron CEO Sanjay Mehrotra and Samsung executive Kim Taewoo both indicated that the global memory shortage will persist for at least the next couple of years, driven by strong demand for high-bandwidth memory (HBM) and server DRAM used in AI and enterprise applications.
• Micron has shifted focus away from consumer RAM, prioritizing memory production for AI and data centers, which has limited the supply of memory for consumer devices and contributed to higher prices and reduced configurations in PCs and other electronics.
• Despite plans to expand manufacturing capacity with new clean rooms opening in 2028, Mehrotra expects supply growth to remain constrained due to the gradual ramp-up of production and technological challenges associated with newer memory nodes.
• Micron’s memory output for 2027 is largely pre-sold, with HBM demand outpacing DRAM, and prices for HBM rising significantly compared to 2026, reflecting tight supply and growing enterprise needs for higher-performance memory.
• The memory shortage has already impacted consumers, leading to increased costs for prebuilt PCs, smartphones, gaming consoles, and other gadgets, as OEMs adjust to limited RAM availability and prioritize strategic business customers.