DRAM and NAND prices remain stable in August

DRAM and NAND flash contract prices have remained flat in August compared to the previous month, according to analyst firm TrendForce.

PC DRAM (DDR4 8Gb) contract price for August was US$4.1, same as the previous month.

Its price had increased 7.89% back in July compared to the previous month. 

Prices of mainstream 8GB DDR4 PC DRAM module were US$35.2 at its highest and US$34.4 at its lowest in August, TrendForce noted.

PC OEMs had high levels of DRAM inventory and actual transactions for the chips are expected to remain at low levels in September, the research firm said.

Contract prices of PC DRAM are expected to remain flat in September.

NAND flash prices were also same as it was in August compared to July. 128Gb MLC contract price was US$4.81 in August, same as the previous month.

Back in July prices of NAND contract prices had increased 5.48% from the previous month.

Average contract prices for 1Gb, 2Gb and 4Gb SLC NANDs were US$1.01, US$1.33 and US$1.81 in August. In the same month, average contract prices of 64Gb and 128Gb MLC prices were US$3 and US$3.44.

Demand for notebooks, smartphones and TVs didn't meet demand recently, TrendForce noted.

Increase in SLC chip prices is expected to stop in the fourth quarter, while TLC and QLC chips used in shortage will continue to see demand increase up to that quarter.

Meanwhile, as of the second quarter, in DRAM, Samsung held a 43.6% market share, followed by SK Hynix's 27.9%.

In NAND during the same quarter, Samsung held a 34% market share, followed by Kioxia's 18.3% and Wester Digital's 14.7%. SK Hynix held a 12.3% market share and Micron 11%. SK Hynix is planning to acquire Intel's NAND business, which will add 6.7 points in market share, making it the second largest NAND supplier.