RAM Shortage Expected to Last Through 2027, Meeting Only 60% of Demand

The global DRAM shortage is expected to persist through at least 2027, with manufacturers projected to meet only 60 percent of demand despite production increases. The world's three largest memory makers—Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron—will have almost no new fabrication capacity online until 2027 or 2028, except for SK's Cheongju facility opened in February 2026. Meeting demand would require DRAM production to increase by 12 percent annually in 2026 and 2027. SK Group's chairman warned the shortage could extend even further to 2030, highlighting the severity of supply constraints in the critical memory chip market.

Projected timeline and severity of RAM shortage

• ▪DRAM manufacturers are expected to meet only 60 percent of demand by the end of 2027
• ▪SK Group chairman expects RAM shortages could last until 2030
• ▪The RAM shortage is expected to last through 2027

Manufacturing capacity expansion challenges

• ▪The SK Cheongju fabrication facility is the only production capacity increase among Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron for 2026
• ▪Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron are the world's largest memory makers
• ▪Almost no new fabrication capacity from Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron will be online until at least 2027, if not 2028
• ▪SK opened a fabrication facility in Cheongju in February 2026

Supply-demand gap and production requirements

• ▪DRAM production would need to increase by 12 percent per year in 2026 and 2027 to meet demand

Perspective of SK Group

• ▪SK Group chairman expects RAM shortages could extend beyond 2027 to potentially 2030

Perspective of Major DRAM manufacturers (Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron)

• ▪The major DRAM manufacturers would need to achieve 12 percent annual production growth in 2026 and 2027 to satisfy market demand
• ▪Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron have limited ability to bring new fabrication capacity online before 2027-2028