Samsung Electronics has sharply increased the prices of several memory chip models—some by as much as 60% compared with September. According to two people familiar with the matter, this surge is a direct result of the global chip shortage caused by the rapid expansion of AI data centers.

Following this news, shares of Samsung, SK Hynix, and major U.S. chipmakers jumped significantly, reflecting the strong demand for memory units used in AI hardware.

This price hike comes at a time when Samsung, the world’s largest memory chip manufacturer, delayed announcing official prices for its October supply contracts. Typically, the company releases new pricing every month.

With memory chips being essential for servers and widely used in devices like smartphones and PCs, the sharp increase could put extra pressure on companies expanding their data infrastructure and may also lead to higher costs for consumer electronics.

 

“Heavy Premiums” — Supply Concerns Shake Companies

According to Tobey Gonnerman, President of Fusion Worldwide, major server manufacturers and data center operators now accept that they will not receive the required amount of chips. “The price premiums currently being paid are extremely high,” he said.

Samsung’s 32GB DDR5 module price rose from $149 in September to $239 in November. Prices for 16GB and 128GB DDR5 chips jumped nearly 50%, reaching $135 and $1,194 respectively. The 64GB and 96GB versions also recorded increases of more than 30%.

Another source familiar with Samsung’s pricing strategy confirmed these increases, although the company did not make any public statement.

 

Samsung to Boost Production Capacity as AI Demand Accelerates

Samsung also announced that it will build a new semiconductor production line at its plant in South Korea, anticipating strong, long-term demand driven by artificial intelligence.

Industry experts say the shortage has become so severe that many customers are panic-buying to secure supply. China’s largest contract chipmaker, SMIC, warned that due to the memory shortage, customers are delaying orders for other chips. Meanwhile, Xiaomi reported that rising memory prices have increased smartphone manufacturing costs.

While Samsung trails competitors in advanced AI chip development, the strength of the memory market is working in its favor. Its slower shift toward AI chips has given it stronger pricing power than smaller rivals like SK Hynix and Micron.

According to TrendForce analyst Ellie Wang, Samsung may increase contract memory pricing by 40%–50% in the October–December quarter, far higher than the industry’s estimated 30% average. She added that Samsung is confident prices will continue to rise due to strong demand, with many customers now signing long-term supply agreements extending into 2026 and 2027.