Samsung Warns: Memory Chip Shortage Will Worsen by 2027 and Last Until 2028
AI labs share long-term demand forecasts with manufacturers to secure supply, while consumers already feel the impact through higher device prices.
AI labs share long-term demand forecasts with manufacturers to secure supply, while consumers already feel the impact through higher device prices.
The global shortage of RAM memory chips will not only continue into next year but is likely to intensify in 2027, with tight supply lasting at least until 2028. This forecast was made by South Korean tech giant Samsung, which produces and supplies roughly one-third of the world's memory chips, during its second-quarter earnings call, as reported by TechCrunch.
To secure access to critical memory infrastructure, leading AI labs have begun directly sharing their medium- and long-term demand forecasts with manufacturers. Samsung confirmed that this visibility allows it to prioritize customers willing to commit to long-term contracts, helping it install equipment and ramp up production without fear of a sudden demand drop, thus avoiding the historical boom-and-bust cycles of the memory industry.
The rise in chip prices, driven by AI demand, is a double-edged sword for Samsung. While sales in its semiconductor unit hit record levels in the second quarter, profitability in its smartphone and TV divisions declined as pricier chips raised component costs. To ease the pressure, Samsung has begun passing some of these rising costs onto consumers by increasing prices for its Galaxy smartphones and tablets, which, however, has resulted in lower demand for these devices.
The memory shortage, informally dubbed "RAMaggedon," has also forced Apple, Samsung's main competitor, to raise prices on its MacBooks, Macs, and iPads last month. In its latest earnings report, Apple warned that revenue growth in the upcoming quarter would slow to between 9 and 11 percent year-over-year, down from a recent quarterly growth rate of 16 percent, according to TechCrunch.
As memory makers shift production capacity toward AI data centers and away from consumer electronics, other players are also announcing price hikes. Nvidia is expected to increase prices on its consumer graphics cards by 20 to 30 percent, which could further drive up costs for gaming devices, desktops, consoles, and laptops.
In addition to pressures in the tech sector, energy prices are also rising. Oil prices climbed by more than one dollar on Friday, July 31, 2026, marking a 24 percent monthly surge. The increase followed reports that some tankers were forced to turn back in the Strait of Hormuz, prompting traders to reassess maritime shipping routes through this critical waterway, as reported by Reforma, citing Reuters. These parallel global trends, while not directly linked to Croatia, will indirectly affect Croatian consumers through higher prices for electronic devices and energy.
