Micron Sees Memory Shortage Worsening Through 2028 as 75% of 2027 Output Is Already Committed
Updated
Updated · Computerworld · Oct 1
Micron Sees Memory Shortage Worsening Through 2028 as 75% of 2027 Output Is Already Committed
3 articles · Updated · Computerworld · Oct 1
Summary
Micron said global memory and storage supply-demand conditions will be tighter in 2027 and 2028 than in 2026, pushing back expectations that the market could rebalance by 2028.
75% of Micron’s 2027 output is already committed, and most customer talks now center on 2028, while new DRAM and NAND fabs will take quarters after initial output to ramp meaningfully.
Prices are still climbing: Micron said fiscal fourth-quarter DRAM prices rose in the high teens and NAND about 30%, while TrendForce sees another 10%-15% DRAM increase and 15%-20% NAND rise in the fourth quarter.
Buyers are already adapting to the squeeze, with some servers shifting from 96GB and 128GB modules to 32GB and 64GB, and IDC previously forecasting average PC selling prices up 17% in 2026.
Micron and analysts said enterprises without long-term contracts will face the most pressure, urging CIOs to lock in multiyear pricing and cut waste before delaying critical hardware refreshes.
Could emerging technologies like High Bandwidth Flash disrupt the current memory monopoly before the projected 2029 supply crisis?
If enterprises waste half their memory capacity, will the impending 2028 shortage trigger a massive shift toward software optimization over hardware upgrades?
With AI cannibalizing memory production, will the skyrocketing cost of older chips force a premature death for conventional servers by 2027?