Another wave of price hikes is here! In December, NAND wafer contract prices jumped by 20%, and SSD prices followed suit, rising by 15%.
[Introduction] Driven by robust global demand for AI and data centers, memory production capacity remains tight, solidifying the upward price cycle. Recently, the market has sent a clear signal: China’s major NAND flash memory manufacturers have initiated a new round of price adjustments. According to industry sources, the contract price for NAND wafers in December 2025 has risen by more than 10% compared to November, with some increases reaching as high as 20%; consequently, prices for end-user SSD products have also climbed by 15% to 20%.
Driven by robust global demand for AI and data centers, memory production capacity remains tight, solidifying the upward price cycle. Recently, the market has sent a clear signal: China’s major NAND flash memory manufacturers have initiated a new round of price adjustments. According to industry sources, the contract price for NAND wafers in December 2025 has risen by more than 10% compared to November, with some increases reaching as high as 20%; consequently, prices for end-user SSD products have also climbed by 15% to 20%.
An in-depth analysis of the supply chain reveals that Chinese NAND manufacturers have already adjusted their prices multiple times this year. For certain product specifications, actual transaction prices have now reached or even exceeded those of overseas manufacturers. This indicates a significant shift in their pricing strategy—from past price competition to volume control and price stabilization, aimed at safeguarding their own profits and maintaining market stability.
Optimize capacity deployment and boost effective supply.
In the field of capacity planning, China’s NAND manufacturers have demonstrated strong strategic capabilities. Take the Wuhan dual-site facility as an example: its monthly production capacity for 12-inch NAND wafers reaches as high as 160,000 units. Through continuous optimization of production lines and steady improvements in yield rates, these manufacturers have successfully expanded their effective supply, enabling them to meet market demand while enhancing their competitive edge in the marketplace.
Thanks to this series of initiatives, China’s NAND manufacturers have undergone a fundamental shift in their role within the global NAND supply chain. Once merely a supplementary force, they have gradually grown into a key factor influencing consumer-price structures and now wield greater influence in the global storage market.
DRAM Expansion: In contrast, Chinese DRAM manufacturers have adopted a more cautious approach to capacity expansion. Currently, their monthly DRAM production capacity stands at approximately 280,000 wafers, and it is expected to increase only to about 300,000 wafers by 2026—a growth rate of roughly 10%.
Industry analysts point out that new investments are primarily directed toward technological upgrades and filling in gaps, while large-scale capacity expansion is constrained by factors such as technical complexity and equipment procurement challenges. This “strong NAND, stable DRAM” capacity structure also determines the differing strategic flexibility of the two sectors in the market.
(Source: Electronic Component Technology; please contact us to remove any content if there is infringement.)
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