Memory chip concept stocks experienced a notable surge. Today, in the A-share market, memory chip concept stocks collectively rose, with the sector index gaining over 3% at one point. As of the latest update, Qiangyi Co., Ltd. hit the 20% daily limit up, while Yawei Co., Ltd., Woguang Optoelectronics, and Quartz Corp. rose by the 10% limit. Shenkeda and Biwin Storage Technology Co.,Ltd. surged more than 12%, with Dongxin Semiconductor and Fuman Micro rising over 10%, and Guoxin Technology gaining more than 9%.
On the same day, in the South Korean stock market, leading memory chip makers Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix also saw significant rebounds, with intraday increases exceeding 10%. Recently, South Korean media reported that Samsung Electronics has raised its first-quarter DRAM price increase from 70% to 100%. Industry estimates suggest that price hikes for SK Hynix and Micron Technology will be similar. Market analysts point out that the continuous sharp rise in DRAM prices is a positive development for the memory chip sector.
According to a report by the South Korean media outlet *Etnews*, Samsung Electronics has confirmed that the first-quarter DRAM price increase is 100%, approximately 30 percentage points higher than the 70% increase negotiated in January this year. The widespread adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) has led to explosive growth in memory demand, causing DRAM prices to fluctuate monthly. An industry report indicates that on March 4, Samsung Electronics finalized DRAM supply prices for the first quarter with its major customers. The average price for general-purpose DRAM used in servers, PCs, and mobile devices increased by about 100% compared to the previous quarter, doubling from the fourth quarter of last year; price hikes for some customers and products even exceeded 100%.
The report mentioned that industry insiders revealed, "Samsung Electronics has completed negotiations for DRAM supply prices. Some overseas customers have already paid deposits, with further adjustments made based on price changes between January and February." In January, Samsung's DRAM price increase was 70%, while the NAND flash price increase was about 100%. At that time, this price hike also caused a significant reaction within the industry. Despite the substantial rise in memory prices, a queue of customers eager to purchase has formed.
It is reported that some large overseas tech companies have come to South Korea and contacted memory manufacturers like Samsung Electronics to secure supply in advance. Considering supply capacity, Samsung Electronics continues to negotiate prices with customers. Analysis suggests that even during supply discussions, demand surged, leading to further price increases after January. Typically, memory supply contracts, such as those for DRAM, are signed annually. Due to recent supply shortages, memory manufacturers began signing quarterly contracts, but with prices changing rapidly, they are now considering monthly agreements.
Samsung Electronics is not the only company continuously driving up memory prices. The report cited industry sources stating that SK Hynix and Micron Technology have also completed first-quarter supply contract negotiations with similar price increases. A pattern of collective price hikes by the three major memory manufacturers has largely taken shape. The expansion of global investment in AI infrastructure is driving this phenomenon. As data center operators deploy AI chips on a large scale, demand for high-bandwidth memory (HBM), which supports computing power, has sharply increased. Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, and Micron Technology are shifting production capacity toward HBM, significantly squeezing the supply of general-purpose DRAM for servers, PCs, and mobile devices.
Amid the backdrop of rising memory prices, some A-share companies have seen substantial earnings growth. On the evening of March 3, Biwin Storage Technology Co.,Ltd. announced that, based on preliminary calculations, the company expects revenue for January-February 2026 to reach 40 billion to 45 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 340% to 395%; net profit attributable to shareholders is projected to be 1.5 billion to 1.8 billion yuan, a year-on-year surge of 921.77% to 1086.13%. Biwin Storage stated that the storage industry is experiencing a highly prosperous cycle in 2026, with AI computing power and domestic substitution driving continuous price increases for RAM/NAND. The industry is facing supply shortages, from which the company benefits significantly. Simultaneously, to enhance the market competitiveness of its products in the AI era, the company continues to increase investment in chip design, solutions, advanced packaging and testing, and testing equipment.
*ETNews* pointed out that with the continued growth of artificial intelligence, memory price increases are expected to persist for some time. NVIDIA, the world's largest AI semiconductor chip company, reported record-breaking performance on the 25th of last month, refuting theories of an AI bubble. Market research firm Gartner predicts that combined prices for DRAM and solid-state drives (SSDs) will rise by about 130% this year compared to the previous year. One industry insider stated, "DRAM and NAND prices will continue to rise in the second quarter. The rate of increase may slow, but price hikes themselves are inevitable."
For downstream customers, the continuous rise in memory procurement costs will further increase the overall cost structure of servers and end-user devices. However, on March 5, South Korean ruling party lawmaker Kim Young-bae stated that the chip industry is concerned that a prolonged crisis in Iran could hinder plans by large tech companies to build AI data centers in the Middle East, thereby dampening strong chip demand. Kim Young-bae also expressed concerns that the Iran crisis might disrupt the supply of some key chip manufacturing materials from the Middle East, such as helium. Helium is crucial for thermal management in semiconductor production and currently has no viable substitute. Kim made these comments after meeting with executives from companies like Samsung Electronics and business and trade groups. South Korean chipmaker SK Hynix stated in a declaration that it has sufficient helium inventory and does not anticipate procurement disruptions. Samsung Electronics declined to comment. Industry insiders noted that as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East have persisted for years, chip manufacturers have diversified their material sourcing, and many companies have made advance purchases as a precautionary measure.
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