Market forecast predicts that SSD and memory prices will rise and supply shortages will continue for 10 years, so buy while they're cheap

As plans to build AI data centers are being launched around the world, demand for SSDs and memory (DRAM) is also rising sharply. As a result, some market forecasts have emerged that 'SSD and memory prices will rise and supply shortages will continue for 10 years.'

AI data centers are swallowing the world's memory and storage supply, setting the stage for a pricing apocalypse that could last a decade | Tom's Hardware
https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/storage/perfect-storm-of-demand-and-supply-driving-up-storage-costs

Phison CEO claims NAND shortage could last a staggering 10 years — says memory 'supercycle' imminent and 'severe' 2026 shortages are at hand | Tom's Hardware
https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/ssds/phison-ceo-claims-nand-shortage-could-last-a-staggering-10-years-says-memory-supercycle-imminent-and-severe-2026-shortages-are-at-hand

At the time of writing, even high-speed, high-capacity SSDs are available at relatively low prices. For example, Kioxia's PCIe 4.0-compatible SSD ' EXCERIA PLUS G3 ,' which uses domestically produced flash memory, is available for under 20,000 yen even for a 2TB model, and if you catch a sale, you can get it for the very low price of under 17,000 yen.

Amazon | KIOXIA Internal SSD 2TB NVMe M.2 Type 2280 PCIe Gen 4.0 x 4 (Maximum Read: 5,000MB/s) Made in Japan with BiCS FLASH TLC Technology, 5-Year Warranty from Authorized Domestic Distributor, EXCERIA PLUS G3 SSD-CK2.0N4PLG3N [Authorized Domestic Distributor Warranty] | KIOXIA | Internal SSD Online Store

Memory has also become much cheaper, and if you take advantage of sales, you can get a memory card with specifications such as ``DDR5-5600 standard, 16GB x 2 (32GB total)'' for less than 9,000 yen.

Amazon | CFD Sales Desktop PC Memory DDR5-5600 (PC5-44800) 16GB x 2 (32GB) Compatibility Guaranteed 288-pin CFD Standard W5U5600CS-16G | CFD Sales | Memory Online

However, as construction of AI data centers progresses around the world, demand for SSDs and memory is rapidly increasing, driving up prices. For example, OpenAI announced on October 1, 2025, that it will collaborate with Samsung and SK Group to secure a large-scale contract to supply up to 900,000 DRAM wafers per month.

Samsung and SK join OpenAI's AI infrastructure project 'Stargate' to 'make Korea one of the world's top three AI nations' - GIGAZINE

Demand for NAND chips, the backbone of SSDs, is also booming. According to Tom's Hardware, Samsung's next-generation V9 NAND is nearly fully booked before its release. Micron's HBM chips are also nearly fully booked through 2026.

Because HBM is primarily used in AI chips, it seems unlikely to have much impact on average consumers. However, the problem is that semiconductor manufacturing plants are using up production capacity to manufacture HBM, putting pressure on production lines for DRAM and other components needed by average consumers. Raspberry Pi has already announced price increases for products such as the Raspberry Pi Compute Module 5 (CM5) and Raspberry Pi 500 due to memory supply shortages.

$5–$10 price increases for some 4GB and 8GB products - Raspberry Pi
https://www.raspberrypi.com/news/5-10-price-increases-for-some-4gb-and-8gb-products/

'NAND will face a severe supply shortage in 2026, and supply will be tight for the next decade,' said Pua Khein-Seng, CEO of Phison Electronics, a developer of NAND controllers, pointing to the possibility of a long-term supply shortage.