According to media reports, the prices of DDR4 8GB and 4GB products, considered industry benchmarks, experienced a decline in September's block trade prices for the first time in 17 months. This decrease is attributed to sustained low demand for PCs and smartphones.

In September, the wholesale price for an 8GB DDR4 module was approximately $2.04, while a 4GB module was priced at $1.57, marking a 3% drop from the previous month.

DRAM is a critical component used to temporarily store data across various devices, including PCs, smartphones, and data center servers. Roughly 50% of DRAM demand is driven by PCs and servers, with smartphones accounting for about 35%. A recent 2.4% year-on-year decline in global PC shipments has notably reduced DRAM market demand.

Moreover, speculation abounds that Chinese DRAM manufacturers may be planning substantial investments. Should this increase in supply materialize, DRAM prices could face further declines.

Analysts from Omdia note the uncertainty surrounding Chinese firms' ability to acquire manufacturing equipment due to U.S. regulations. If Chinese companies succeed in obtaining necessary tools, future supply boosts could exert additional pressure on DRAM prices.

Industry experts highlight that leading global DRAM manufacturers — Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron — are transitioning their production efforts toward DDR5 and HBM memory, essential for generative AI, in response to shifting market demands.