RAM SHORTAGE COULD PERSIST UNTIL 2030

INDUSTRY DESK■ 1 MIN READ

SUN, APR 19, 2026

■ AI-SUMMARIZED FROM 1 SOURCE BELOW

Global DRAM production will struggle to meet demand for years, with manufacturers expected to fulfill only 60 percent of needs by 2027, according to Nikkei Asia. SK Group's chairman warned shortages could extend to 2030.

The world's three largest memory chipmakers—Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron—are expanding production capacity, but most new fabrication plants won't become operational until 2027 at the earliest, with some delayed until 2028. SK Hynix opened a fab in Cheongju in February, marking the only near-term production increase among the major suppliers. The gap between supply and demand will force manufacturers to make difficult allocation choices across industries reliant on DRAM chips. The prolonged shortage reflects both surging global demand for memory chips and the significant time required to construct and operationalize semiconductor fabrication facilities. The capital-intensive nature of fab development means supply constraints will persist even as companies aggressively pursue expansion.

■ SOURCES

► The Verge

■ SUMMARY WRITTEN BY AI FROM THE LINKS ABOVE

■ MORE FROM THE HARDWARE DESK

P253RAY-BAN META GLASSES GET ALWAYS-ON AI BOOST

Researchers have developed an OpenClaw agent for Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses that enables continuous AI perception. A new study examines how always-on AI changes how people interact with agentic AI systems.

2H AGO— Industry Desk

P252HUMANOID ROBOTS SMASH HALF-MARATHON RECORDS

Chinese-made humanoid robots dominated the Beijing half-marathon, with several finishing 10+ minutes ahead of human competitors. Honor's robot surpassed Jacob Kiplimo's human world record.

2H AGO— Industry Desk

P237NIST CREATES TUNABLE LASERS FOR ANY WAVELENGTH

Scientists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology have developed a laser technology capable of producing any wavelength on tiny integrated circuits. The breakthrough could enable compact devices across telecommunications, sensing, and medical applications.

9H AGO— Industry Desk

P230SNK NEO GEO AES+ REMAKE PLAYS ORIGINAL CARTRIDGES

SNK and Plaion have announced the Neo Geo AES+, a modernized remake of the classic 1990s arcade console that accepts original cartridges and outputs to HDMI. The device bridges retro gaming with contemporary displays.

14H AGO— Industry Desk

◄ BACK TO NEWS

RAM SHORTAGE COULD PERSIST UNTIL 2030

■ MORE FROM THE HARDWARE DESK

■ SUBSCRIBE TO THE DAILY BRIEF