According to the latest spot prices for memory from TrendForce, due to the Chinese New Year holiday, the spot market is experiencing a limited number of released quotes and very few transactions for DRAM. The trading momentum in the NAND Flash spot market has also not shown any improvement. Details are as follows:

DRAM Spot Market:

Chinese OEMs are winding down their operations due to the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday. As a result, the spot market is experiencing a limited number of released quotes and very few transactions. Sellers’ quotes continue to drive the spot price rally, but there is not much actual demand. Although DRAM suppliers are withholding the amount of products going into the spot market, this has a limited effect in terms of sustaining the rally. The average spot price of mainstream chips (i.e., DDR4 1Gx8 2666MT/s) rose by 0.52% from US$1.922 last week to US$1.932 this week.

NAND Flash Spot Market:

Transaction momentum is not yet revitalized from the spot market, with market activities carrying on from that of last week under the absence of buy orders for retail NAND Flash products. Module houses are currently hoping that promotions from Chinese New Year would amplify order dynamics, which are seemingly quite difficult for the time being. The 512Gb TLC wafer spot stayed flat this week at US$3.437.

According to TrendForce’s latest report on memory spot price trends, the DRAM spot market is experiencing a clear upward trend driven by contract market demand. In contrast, the NAND Flash market appears relatively sluggish. Details are as follows:

DRAM Spot Market:

The significant rise in contract prices has also led to a corresponding increase in spot prices this week, and both DDR4 and DDR5 chips are experiencing a price rally. TrendForce has observed that spot buyers’ procurement quantities are not based on actual demand. Buyers are instead banking on future market conditions and raising their inventory levels. Hence, even though there are clear signs of quotes rising, transactions are still limited in terms of quantity. The average spot price of mainstream chips (i.e., DDR4 1Gx8 2666MT/s) rose by 0.69% from US$1.883 last week to US$1.896 this week.

NAND Flash Spot Market:

The spot market of NAND Flash has been rather sluggish compared to that of DRAM. 3D wafers, having risen in prices for a long while, are relatively stagnated now, where the mainstream 512GB TLC is retained at approximately US$3.3. Prices for other finished products are also relatively flat, with sporadic demand for replenishment, and no further magnification has been seen from overall transactions. 512Gb TLC wafer spots have risen by 0.97% this week, arriving at US$3.219.

Following the Singles’ Day Sale in China, demands are relatively cooled down. While for DRAM spot prices, market experiences fluctuations due to subdued demand and increased supply of used chips. In contrast, NAND spot price remains relatively strong under the ongoing reduction in supply.

DRAM Spot Market

Following the Singles’ Day promotional events in China, demand has cooled down compared with the previous few weeks. Looking at DRAM spot prices, prices for chips from suppliers have remained steady, but there has been an influx of used chips stripped from decommissioned modules. Spot prices of used DDR4 chips have now fallen to US$1.05, significantly lower than the spot price of around US$1.75 for new chips from suppliers. Spot prices of DDR5 chips, on the other hand, have remained relatively stable. However, Kingston has not raised module prices, making it difficult to sustain the upward momentum. The average spot price of mainstream chips (DDR4 1Gx8 2666MT/s) rose by 1.54% from US$1.683 last week to US$1.709 this week.

NAND Flash Spot Market

Demand from the spot market has become even more enervated after China’s Double 11 shopping festival when compared to that of several weeks ago. In terms of spot prices, the mainstream 512Gb wafer is supported by suppliers’ ongoing diminishment of wafer provision, and continues to march towards US$2.7-US$2.9 at a relatively robust tendency in comparison with DRAM spots, despite poor demand. 512Gb TLC wafer spots have risen by 11.54% this week, arriving at US$2.862.

In the spot market, DRAM prices are showing a slight divergence from the contract market. Spot demand has decreased, preventing further price increases for DRAM chips. Meanwhile, NAND Flash prices have been rising due to ongoing wafer shortage. However, spot quotations for NAND Flash packaged dies remain stable due to uncertain demand visibility.

DRAM Spot Market

The price trend of the spot market diverges slightly from that of the contract market. Recently, demand has dropped in the spot market. Even though DRAM suppliers and module houses have been passive in offering price concessions, there also has been no noticeable increase in demand. Furthermore, there is growing sentiment in the spot market that waiting for further developments is the best option. Hence, spot prices of DRAM chips have not been able to rise further. As for modules, their spot prices have experienced limited fluctuations because Kingston, as the leading module house, is unwilling to raise quotes due to its high inventory level. The average spot price of the mainstream chips (i.e., DDR4 1Gx8 2666MT/s) rose by 1.69% from US$1.600 last week to US$1.627 this week.

NAND Flash Spot Market

The spot market, due to continuous shortages in recent wafer supply, has been experiencing rising prices under a shrinking volume, while spot quotations for NAND Flash packaged dies have been oscillating narrowly in quotations on account of the persistently constrained level of visibility in demand. Follow ups on market prices can still be seen among products involved in production cuts of suppliers, whereas other products are fluctuating according to market demand. 512Gb TLC wafer spots have risen by 6.94% this week, arriving at US$2.464.

DRAM Spot Market:

As China’s National Day holiday approaches, the frequency of buyers making transactions has dropped. However, transaction prices remain fairly high, and there are no clear signs indicating that prices in the spot market will buckle in the near term. The average spot price of mainstream chips (i.e., DDR4 1Gx8 2666MT/s) rose by 0.33% from US$1.500 last week to US$1.505 this week.

NAND Flash Spot Market:

Participants of the spot market have slightly dropped in transaction frequency as the National Day Golden Week is just around the corner, with overall concluded prices maintained on an ascending trend, and a continuance of subsequent purchase willingness will depend on the market sentiment and the actual level of demand after the long holiday. 512Gb TLC wafer spots have climbed 3.47% this week, arriving at US$1.818.