May 12, 2025 /SemiMedia/ — Samsung Electronics has reached agreements with major clients to increase DRAM prices, marking its first price hike in over a year. According to industry sources, the company finalized new supply contracts earlier this month. DDR4 prices are set to rise by an average of around 20%, while DDR5 prices will see a smaller increase of about 5%, depending on the customer.

The move reflects a broader shift in the memory market, where demand is rebounding after a prolonged downturn. DRAM prices, especially for mainstream PC DRAM products like 8Gb DDR4 (1Gx8), had plummeted in 2023 due to oversupply. In November alone, average contract prices fell by over 20%, according to data from DRAMeXchange.

However, market dynamics began to shift in April, with fixed transaction prices rising for the first time in over a year. The average price of DDR4 8Gb (1Gx8 2133MHz) climbed by 22.22% month-on-month last month, driven by a surge in short-term demand. PC, smartphone, and server makers are reportedly building up inventory in anticipation of higher trade barriers and future price hikes.

Industry analysts suggest that buyers believe DRAM prices have bottomed out, prompting more aggressive procurement strategies. With rising demand and upward pricing momentum, the memory chip sector may experience a rare period of growth in the near term.