According to TrendForce’s latest memory spot price trend report, due to a significant increase in DRAM module contract prices, some buyers are turning to spot inquiries, leading to partial transactions at lower prices. Meanwhile, NAND Flash prices have shown loosening in spot prices as certain module manufacturers adopt a more cautious approach towards future wafer price trends, reducing their inventory buildup. Details are as follows:

DRAM Spot Price:

Spot prices of DRAM chips have yet to rebound, and the overall chip transaction volume has been limited due to the tepid demand situation. Regarding DRAM modules, some spot transactions have been arranged in the lower price range as a few buyers experiencing significant increases in the contract market have sought quotes in the spot market. Currently, the May Day holiday is taking place in China, so the spot market has been rather quiet in recent days. Looking ahead, an important market indicator is whether inventory-related preparations for the 618 Sales Event will lead to a notable demand increase. The average spot price of the mainstream chips (i.e., DDR4 1Gx8 2666MT/s) has not changed from last week and is holding steady at US$1.949.

NAND Flash Spot Price:

A number of module houses, who are reserved towards future wafer price trends, are no longer building significant inventory in order to achieve austerity to maintain their cash required for operations. This has led to a loosening in spot prices. Suppliers are attempting to avoid another predicament of excessive provision by controlling product availability, though such action has proven to be quite restricted pertaining to the increase of packaged die prices. Spot prices of 512Gb TLC wafers have dropped by 0.99% this week, arriving at US$3.708.

According to the latest memory spot price trends released by TrendForce, overall DRAM spot market demand has not further heated up, and transaction volume has further shrunk. NAND Flash, affected by pessimistic demand, is experiencing a lack of enthusiasm in market price inquiry transactions. For more details:

DRAM Spot Market:

In the spot market, demand has not risen further for chips, and the overall transaction volume continues to shrink. Most module houses have been slow to reduce inventory, so the situation with spot trading has not been ideal. However, procurement momentum is relatively healthy for server DRAM RDIMMs mainly because DRAM suppliers have significantly increased contract prices for these products, thereby causing some increase in demand in the spot market.

Overall, various DRAM products are currently not consistent in terms of price increases and declines. Further observations on the demand situations across different application segments are necessary to determine their price trends. The average spot price of mainstream chips (i.e., DDR4 1Gx8 2666MT/s) rose by 0.21% from US$1.945 last week to US$1.949 this week.

NAND Flash Spot Market:

Price inquiries have not been robust under a poor outlook on demand as the spot market has started manifesting room for negotiations with channel traders, or even module houses, experiencing an excessive inventory, alongside the obstruction on a further hike of 3D wafer prices. Spot prices of 512Gb TLC wafers have dropped by 0.03% this week, arriving at US$3.764.

TrendForce releases the latest trends in memory spot prices. Due to sellers halting quotations, DDR3, DDR4, and DDR5 have all seen price increases. It is expected that prices will decline once quotations are fully resumed. On the other hand, with no strong signs of recovery in end-market demand for NAND Flash, inquiry interest remains subdued. Details below:

DRAM Spot Market:

In the spot market, sellers and module houses suspended quoting following Taiwan’s earthquake on April 3, leading to incremental price rises over several days. This upward trend applies to DDR3, DDR4, and DDR5 products. However, the spot market still lacks demand, and transactions have been limited in terms of quantity. TrendForce believes sellers will resume quoting very soon, and prices will shift down again as before. The average spot price of mainstream chips (i.e., DDR4 1Gx8 2666MT/s) rose by 0.93% from US$1.927 last week to US$1.945 this week.

NAND Flash Spot Market:

Suppliers are carrying on with their increase of contract prices for the mainstream 512Gb wafers by more than US$4, though inquiries have been sluggish as distributors are currently holding onto an excessive level of low-cost inventory, and that end market demand has also yet to resuscitate. TrendForce noticed that a number of suppliers are truncating with prices that are slightly below that of contract prices for March, which are generating some sort of pricing pressure. Spot prices of 512Gb TLC wafers have risen by 0.03% this week, arriving at US$3.765.

DRAM Spot Market:

The current decline in spot prices is also one of the reasons for TrendForce’s relatively conservative forecast. Spot prices have been falling for several weeks. Apart from weak channel demand, TrendForce has also observed that memory module manufacturers are experiencing a continuous rise in inventory levels. Spot traders, on the whole, are now feeling the pressure to sell off their stocks. As a shortage of cash flow becomes more noticeable, sellers continue to cut prices in order to drive sales.

TrendForce forecasts that the gap between spot and contract prices will widen for modules. Since spot prices serve as a leading indicator for the overall price trend, this latest development is unhealthy for the market. The average spot price of mainstream chips (i.e., DDR4 1Gx8 2666MT/s) fell by 0.26% from US$1.921 last week to US$1.916 this week.

NAND Flash Spot Market:

Channel traders are now holding onto an excessive amount of inventory, which led to sluggish transactions, while the lack of usual aggressive replenishment on inventory after Lunar New Year has even forced certain spot traders to start considering on the possibility of truncation. 512Gb TLC wafer spots remain unchanged in prices this week at US$3.764.

DRAM Spot Market:

DRAM spot prices continue to fall as channel demand has been tepid. Furthermore, the decline has become sharper recently for both DDR4 and DDR5 products. At the same time, spot traders who previously accumulated stockpiles are now eager to sell because the overall demand outlook is not particularly positive. Hence, spot prices, on the whole, are weakening. The average spot price of mainstream chips (i.e., DDR4 1Gx8 2666MT/s) fell by 0.77% from US$1.936 last week to US$1.921 this week.

NAND Flash Spot Market:

Continuing from last week, spot prices are lingering at an amplified degree of declination under the persistently sluggish demand from the channel market, though at a slightly lighter sales pressure compared to that of DRAM. For 512Gb wafers, concluded prices are sitting on about US$3.9, which are lower than contract prices, and indicate the yet-to-be recovered level of consumer demand. 512Gb TLC wafer spots have dropped by 1.98% this week, arriving at US$3.764.