Memory Price Tracking: DDR3 steadily rising, DDR4/DDR5 prices remain high, demand is weak

The spot memory market is displaying a clear pattern of divergence. DDR3 continues to strengthen thanks to its price advantage, while DDR4 and DDR5 have become stuck in a stalemate between buyers and sellers due to high prices and weak demand. NAND Flash is similarly under pressure, and overall market sentiment is trending cautious.

According to TrendForce’s latest memory spot price tracking report, as of the week ending March 31, the average price of mainstream DDR4 chips (DDR4 1Gx8 3200MT/s) slipped slightly by 0.12% to $33.96, and DDR5 prices remained weak.

Although suppliers have adopted aggressive price-cutting strategies, module manufacturers only make small-volume purchases when prices are significantly below market levels, resulting in a stalemate between both sides. In the Chinese market, prices for some modules dismantled from second-hand equipment have fallen sharply, but the overall impact remains limited.

Polarization in the Spot Memory Market Intensifies

DDR4 and DDR5 spot markets continued to be lackluster this week. TrendForce noted that end demand remains suppressed by high prices, contract prices for Q2 2026 have not been announced, there is a lack of clear market direction, and both trading and buying intentions are subdued.

Although suppliers proactively lowered quotes, the effect has been limited. The weekly average price decline for mainstream DDR4 chips was only 0.12%, indicating limited room for price drops and lack of momentum for increases.

In contrast to the sluggishness of DDR4 and DDR5, the DDR3 spot market performed relatively strongly this week. TrendForce pointed out that DDR3 features a clear price advantage and occasional demand from urgent orders, keeping low-priced spot purchases active and prices for various brands relatively stable.

This pattern shows that amid overall weak demand, some cost-sensitive buyers are turning to the cheaper DDR3 as an alternative, providing independent support logic for this segment.

NAND Flash spot market also weakened this week. TrendForce noted that module makers only make small batch purchases when prices are significantly below market levels, and both buyers and sellers lack momentum. The spot price of 512Gb TLC dropped 2.97% this week, and supply-demand balance pressures remain.

Sharp DDR5 Price Drop in Chinese Retail Market Concentrated in Dismantled Modules, Industry Says

Recently, the sharp drop in DDR5 prices in China’s retail market has attracted attention.

At Huaqiangbei Electronics Market, DDR5 spot prices fell sharply by about 30%, with 32GB modules dropping from nearly 3,000 RMB to around 2,500 RMB, and some clearance quotes as low as 1,950 RMB. Mainstream 16GB DDR5-5600/6000 modules on domestic e-commerce platforms also fell from around 1,300 RMB in January-February to about 1,000 RMB, an accumulated decline of 25%–30%.

TrendForce report quoted industry insiders as saying that the decline is mainly concentrated in dismantled spot modules, while prices for native IC modules remain basically stable. Major memory manufacturers' 1G DDR5 module transaction prices remain in the $5–$7.5 range, reflecting the supply situation in the secondary market for recycled ICs.

Richard’s Research Blog analyzes that spot market DRAM chips and modules account for only 1%–5% of the overall DRAM market, and the “cliff-like” drop in China’s retail sector reflects concentrated price swings in niche channels rather than a systemic deterioration in overall market demand.

The Price Pullback: Sentiment-Driven, Weak Demand

Regarding the recent weakness in DRAM prices, Richard‘s Research Blog believes that this round of adjustments is more of a market correction rather than demand shock. PC DRAM and mobile DRAM spot and retail prices have continued to soften from February to March this year, prompting factories, distributors, and traders who accumulated inventory during the previous price increase to lock in profits and exit.

Some market voices see Google TurboQuant as a catalyst suppressing memory demand. However, this analysis disagrees, claiming TurboQuant is essentially an AI data center inference technology, with almost no direct link to PC DIMM pricing and only marginal impact in certain niche AI PC applications.

The analysis also points out that contract prices remain strong, and the sharp drop in PC DIMM spot prices indicates this round of volatility is mainly sentiment-driven—traders and inventory holders are locking in profits amid negative news flows, rather than being constrained by actual demand deterioration.

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