DRAM price increases are expected to slow in the third quarter of 2021 due to high DRAM inventory levels among smartphone and PC makers.

TrendForce announced its forecast for DRAM and NAND price increases on the 8th.

Accordingly, the increase in DRAM prices in the third quarter is expected to be 3-8%, which is expected to decrease compared to the 18-23% increase in the second quarter.

For NAND, the price increase in the third quarter is expected to be similar to the second quarter, at 5-10%.

Based on this, TrendForce determined that smartphone and PC makers have high DRAM inventory levels.

Regarding the notebook market, PC makers are currently known to have an average of 8 to 10 weeks' worth of DRAM inventory, with some PC makers reportedly holding even higher inventory levels.

However, as demand for laptops is expected to increase by 14.3% year-on-year this year, with approximately 238 million units expected to be produced, DRAM sales are expected to increase.

SRegarding smartphones, smartphone brands are currently holding an average of 8-10 weeks of inventory for DRAM and NAND, and Chinese brands are known to have lowered their production targets and begun adjusting inventory to address the component gap issue, while Southeast Asia is reportedly experiencing a decline in smartphone production and weakening consumer demand due to the spread of COVID-19.

In particular, Chinese smartphone brands are expected to delay purchases of mobile DRAM and NAND solutions in the second half of the year.