Global DRAM Production Sold Out Through 2027 as AI Demand Tightens Supply

The world's three largest DRAM manufacturers have already allocated their entire 2027 production capacity for DRAM and high-bandwidth memory (HBM), according to supply chain sources cited by DigiTimes. The report suggests the global memory shortage is tightening further, with supply expected to remain constrained well into 2027.



The three major DRAM producers have locked in orders for all of next year, while NAND flash production is expected to be fully booked before the end of August. Samsung, Micron, and SanDisk have already sold out their planned NAND output for the year, while Kioxia and SK Hynix are expected to finalize contracts by late August. All buyers, regardless of whether they hold multi-year agreements, have agreed to advance payment deposit terms.


Industry insiders told DigiTimes that some memory purchasers may be unaware that July and August are the critical window for securing capacity, partly because suppliers and customers fear publicizing the rush would attract even more demand and reduce allocations. Manufacturers are reportedly allocating only about 60% to 70% of the capacity customers originally requested, leaving some buyers scrambling to secure enough memory.

Surging investment in AI cloud infrastructure continues to drive the shortage. Hyperscalers and AI companies are competing aggressively for memory, with some reportedly "begging" for supply in 2026. To avoid another scramble, memory manufacturers have largely locked in 2027 production with their biggest customers. ADATA Chairman Simon Chen said the three major DRAM makers have already sold out their 2027 output and that HBM and AI server applications are expected to consume nearly 70% of DRAM production, leaving relatively limited supply for smartphones and PCs.

Those constraints are already affecting Apple. The company has raised prices across several Mac and iPad models as memory costs climbed. Tim Cook previously described the situation as a hundred-year flood for the supply chain. Apple has also seen delivery estimates slip for some MacBook Air configurations amid broader supply constraints.

Facing limited options, Apple has explored alternative measures, including attempts to lobby the U.S. government for permission to buy memory from blacklisted Chinese suppliers. With less memory capacity expected to be available for smartphones and PCs in 2027, Apple and other device makers are likely to face continued pressure on component costs and memory availability. DigiTimes expects memory prices to remain elevated, although it says the pace of future increases could moderate as 2027 production allocations are finalized.