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As memory giants prepare for price hikes, Samsung is joining the trend, following in the footsteps of Micron and SanDisk. According to South Korean media outlet Pulse, Samsung Electronics is set to hike DRAM and NAND flash prices by 3 to 5%, with negotiations already underway with global clients.
Notably, the report suggests that if the Trump administration imposes tariffs on semiconductors, it could cause supply disruptions and drive up memory prices further in the second half of 2025. Therefore, Samsung’s decision to raise prices is reportedly viewed as a strategic move to boost earnings and navigate the trade uncertainties sparked by U.S. policies.
As highlighted by Reuters, Trump unveiled a blanket tariff on U.S. imports, slapping a 25% duty on goods from South Korea, among other “worst offenders.” However, semiconductors remain untouched on the latest tariff list for now.
Different Stances Among Memory Giants
Pulse indicates that Samsung had previously kept a conservative pricing strategy due to oversupply and weak demand. However, as demand for memory chips surged, partly driven by stockpiling in anticipation of potential U.S. tariffs, the company shifted its stance, the report says.
Before Samsung, SanDisk announced a price hike of over 10% starting April 1. Meanwhile, on March 25, Micron informed clients that it would raise prices due to tightening conditions as both the memory and storage markets recover.
China’s largest NAND maker, YMTC, reportedly plans a similar increase in April, possibly exceeding 10%.
On the other hand, as per No Cut News, SK hynix, during its shareholder meeting on March 27, stated that it would maintain a flexible strategy based on demand, rather than focusing on price hikes.
DRAM/ NAND Prices Set to Rise in Q2
TrendForce’s latest findings forecast average DRAM prices, including HBM, are expected to rise 3-8% due to increased shipments of HBM3e 12hi. U.S. tariff hikes prompted most downstream brands to frontload shipments to 1Q25, accelerating inventory reduction across the memory supply chain, as per TrendForce.
On the NAND front, TrendForce expects NAND Flash prices to stabilize in Q2 2025, with wafer prices set to rise by 10-15% and client SSD prices by 3-8%.
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(Photo credit: Samsung)
