Memory chip markets are experiencing a historic price surge, with both DRAM and NAND flash hitting all-time highs simultaneously. According to DRAMeXchange data released February 27, general-purpose PC DRAM (DDR4 8Gb 1Gx8) averaged $13.00 in February, a 13.04% jump from January and the highest since records began in June 2016.

DRAM prices have now climbed for 11 consecutive months since April 2025. TrendForce reports PC DRAM prices surged 110-115% quarter-over-quarter—more than double Q4 2025's 38-43% increase. With most Q1 contracts finalized, analysts expect prices to stabilize at February levels through March.

NAND flash posted even steeper gains. General-purpose NAND (128Gb 16Gx8 MLC) reached $12.67 in February, a staggering 33.91% month-over-month increase, marking 14 straight months of price appreciation.

The rally stems from sustained supply-demand imbalance. Manufacturers continue shifting capacity toward high-margin 3D NAND and advanced products, tightening supply for mature nodes like SLC and MLC. TrendForce projects this imbalance to persist through H1 2026, driven by edge computing and automotive demand growth.

ICgoodFind : The synchronized DRAM-NAND record highs reflect a structural supply shift, not just cyclical demand. With manufacturers prioritizing advanced products over mature nodes, traditional memory segments face sustained tightness—fundamentally different from past boom-bust cycles.