Are you playing the game or watching from the sidelines?
The football World Cup has kicked off, and it’s an exceptional one this year. Bigger, longer, with a lot of attention on ticket prices and politics. Sounds familiar? Well, we can’t help but see parallels to the memory market.
This World Cup sets a record as the largest tournament with 48 teams instead of the usual 32, lasting for 39 days instead of 29. A longer cycle, more strenuous – just what we see in the memory market: an unprecedented extended bull period, a super cycle unlike any cycle before. And market analysts don’t see an end to it soon.
Another parallel is the pricing of the stadium tickets. For the first time, ticket prices are “demand driven” or rather “dynamic”, just like memory prices. Demand sets the price for the memory and most manufacturers have now switched to delivery based pricing, meaning that the final price is quoted once the memory is ready for shipment. And this might be nothing like the price at the time of order.
But unlike the World Cup, you don’t have to watch from the sidelines or on TV, you can play in the memory market, if you have the right partner at your side. We are not saying it is easy, but with long term planning, qualifying as many alternatives as possible and opportunities for short-term buys, you can keep in the game.
That, however, requires a close relationship with your supplier, a business friendship, as we explain in our newsletter below.
Enjoy the read and reach out if you have any questions or want to discuss your supply situation.
What the Global Memory Market Reset means for you
In June, we presented at two industry events, providing insights into the dynamics of the semiconductor memory market. The message is what we’ve been delivering for the past months, in our webinars and in direct discussions with our customers. We update the figures, find new supporting materials, and tell the uncomfortable truth to the ones still in denial:
- Supply will get worse before it gets better.
- Prices will drop eventually, but not to the all-time low of 2024
- DDR4 and DDR3 will become legacy niches, not recommended for new designs
Read more here.
NOR and SLC NAND remain tight
Prices for NOR Flash and SLC NAND surged 100% since the beginning of 2026, and TrendForce expects further price increases.
NOR remains the key memory for code execution and edge AI devices today require significantly more firmware storage for their AI models. At the same time, AI inference in smart factories, robotics, autonomous mobile equipment, and high-end networking switches drives demand for SLC NAND.
With no significant capacity expansion plans in sight, supply will remain tight for the rest of the year.
Read more here. Reach out if you need samples or quotes.
Why your memory distributor should be your best friend
Until just a few years ago, production lines for DDR3, DDR4, LPDDR4, or MLC NAND were running at full capacity.
Since 2025, however, major manufacturers have significantly redirected their resources - away from legacy technologies and toward an AI-driven memory future. The result is that legacy memory is not only becoming more expensive but also unpredictable.
As the electronics industry is transforming in ways we never thought possible, the role of memory experts like MEMPHIS is changing.
Here is why.
SD and micro SD cards from Intelligent Memory
Most embedded and industrial applications don’t require high densities but maximum data reliability and long-term durability. For this reason, Intelligent Memory’s SD and microSD cards are based on SLC (Single-Level Cell) NAND flash with 60,000 (60K) Program/Erase (P/E) cycles, providing the high-endurance that industrial-grade storage requires.
As they are rated for industrial temperatures, they are ideal for medical devices, data loggers, digital signage, industrial and machine vision cameras, as well as Raspberry Pi- and Arduino-based industrial systems.
Find our more here and reach out if you require samples or quotes.
MEMPHIS to exhibit at FMS 2026
At this year’s Future of Memory and Storage event (FMS) taking place from August 4 to 6 in Santa Clara, MEMPHIS Electronic will provide market insights and product guidance.
At booth #840, MEMPHIS experts will be available to discuss how companies can balance continuity and innovation, ensuring stability without compromising future competitiveness. This includes strategies for maintaining supply of established DRAM generations as well as navigating transitions to newer technologies in a controlled and application-specific manner.
Find out more here.
MEMPHIS at electronica India
As the semiconductor memory market continues to evolve, driven by rapid technology shifts, supply volatility, and changing lifecycle requirements, the need for reliable guidance has never been greater.
In its 35th year, MEMPHIS will provide guidance based on its in-depth market experience and intimate knowledge of supplier roadmaps at electronica India from September 16-18 in Bengaluru.
It’s your chance to discuss your specific applications and explore strategies for managing both current and future memory challenges with our experts.
Find out more here.