HBM and DRAM Prices Rise as Samsung Considers Shifting Pyeongtaek Line to Memory Production

HBM and DRAM prices for AI accelerators continue to rise, with South Korean trade data showing a sharp increase in export prices even as shipment volumes fell. According to ChainCatcher, DRAM exports dropped 13.2% from about 681.7 million units in May to 591.74 million units in July, while export value rose 18.5% from $11.428 billion to $13.552 billion, lifting the average export price 36.6% to $22.9 per unit. The report said expanding HBM4 supply to customers including Nvidia, along with lower initial yields than HBM3E, has intensified the overall DRAM shortage. Samsung Electronics' memory division is reportedly planning to allocate about 70% of capacity to long-term supply agreements through 2031, mainly for Nvidia, Microsoft, and Google. Mega Grid Supply data showed HBM3E 36GB spot prices at $2,100, about four to five times the long-term contract price, while HBM4 16-layer spot prices, as production coordination begins, are around $3,500. Market estimates put Samsung Electronics' third-quarter revenue at 206.64 trillion won and operating profit at 116.38 trillion won, which would be its first operating profit above 100 trillion won. SK Hynix is expected to report third-quarter revenue of 101.76 trillion won and operating profit of 79.16 trillion won. Samsung is also considering converting its only foundry line at the Pyeongtaek campus, S5, to memory production as early as next year.