"Money can't buy"! Samsung, Micron, and SK Hynix join forces to "limit sales" and strictly prevent downstream stockpiling

The world's three major memory chip manufacturers are taking rare measures to curb customer stockpiling behavior. In the face of ongoing supply tightness, Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, and Micron have begun to strengthen the review of customer orders, requiring the disclosure of end-user and order volume information to ensure the authenticity of demand and prevent excessive stockpiling from further disrupting the market.

According to Nikkei Asia on Friday, the three companies have tightened order requirements and implemented stricter monitoring of customer procurement behavior. This move highlights the severity of the current supply-demand imbalance in the memory chip market.

The chain reaction of supply tightness is becoming evident in the consumer electronics sector. Entry-level and mid-range products—including televisions, set-top boxes, home routers, tablets, smartphones, and personal computers—are expected to be the most severely impacted. The automotive industry is also under significant pressure, with its longer certification cycles complicating the issue.

Rising memory prices have begun to erode manufacturers' profits. According to TrendForce data, the share of DRAM in the bill of materials cost for televisions has rapidly climbed from the previous 2.5-3% to 6-7%, putting immense pressure on brand profitability. Smaller brands with limited resources bear a heavier burden. Against the backdrop of rising costs and tightening supply, personal computer manufacturers may also reduce shipments. TrendForce has revised its 2026 laptop shipment forecast from a year-on-year decline of 5.4% to a decline of 9.4%.

Manufacturers Adjust Designs to Address Supply Constraints

In response to the shortage of memory chips, manufacturers are seeking alternatives. According to Nikkei, some manufacturers have begun to procure old inventory from warehouses, dismantling memory chips from these devices and reinstalling them onto other printed circuit boards to achieve component reuse and gain additional supply. However, this method is limited to the secondary market, which can tolerate potential quality issues.

Some personal computer manufacturers are also adjusting their product design strategies. Some companies are designing additional memory slots in entry-level models, allowing users to upgrade capacity themselves when needed, thereby alleviating current supply pressures.

Memory Giants' Inventory Drops to Historic Lows

Recent data disclosed by memory chip manufacturers further confirms the supply tightness. According to the Korea Economic Daily, SK Hynix stated that its DRAM inventory has significantly decreased year-on-year since the fourth quarter of last year, and it is expected to contract further in the second half of this year, indicating that customer supply conditions may remain tight for some time. In terms of NAND flash, SK Hynix noted that inventory, primarily consisting of solid-state drives, has continued to decline since the second half of last year and is now at a level comparable to DRAM.

According to the Korea Economic Daily, Samsung's DRAM inventory has dropped to about six weeks' worth of supply, only about half of the normal 10-12 weeks level. As the largest capacity producer among the three major memory chip manufacturers, Samsung is expected to benefit in this supplier-dominated market