As the global memory market falls into a supply-demand imbalance at an "out of control" level, foreign media reported that an unprecedented phenomenon is occurring where older DDR4 RAM prices are surging more than twice as fast as the latest DDR5.
According to recent data from Taiwan media Gongshang Shibao and investment bank Goldman Sachs, current DDR4 spot prices are currently formed at levels up to 172% higher compared to contract prices between manufacturers and companies. This is a figure that far exceeds DDR5 (76%).
Goldman Sachs analyzed that while DDR5 spot prices have shown a sharp rebound since early 2026, DDR4 spot prices have continued their steady upward trend since September 2024 and show no signs of slowing down.
Goldman Sachs pointed out, "Currently, the memory market is moving in a structure where spot prices lead and contract prices lag," and "due to extreme price premiums, lower-tier customers have virtually lost negotiating power in contract negotiations." It added, "The gap between spot prices and contract prices has become excessively large, making a substantial adjustment of contract prices inevitable."
