Samsung said to seek sharp HBM4 price rise in next-year supply talks
In short
Samsung Electronics has reportedly proposed sharply higher prices in next-year supply negotiations for high-bandwidth memory (HBM) with major customers, as general-purpose DRAM prices surge and a market shortage persists. One Korean business outlet said Samsung's HBM price could roughly double, the highest among the three DRAM makers. Industry sources expect the supplier-favourable negotiating stance to continue next year as Samsung moves from HBM3E to HBM4.
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Samsung Electronics has reportedly asked major customers for sharply higher prices in negotiations over next year's supply of high-bandwidth memory, the chips used in AI hardware. Chosun Ilbo, citing industry sources, reported that the company presented substantially raised prices as its main HBM product moves from fifth-generation HBM3E to sixth-generation HBM4. [ 1 , 2 ]
A second Korean business outlet, Korea Economic Daily, reported that Samsung's HBM price could roughly double and that it is expected to be the highest among the three DRAM makers. Chosun Ilbo did not give a figure, saying only that the increase would be large. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The reported pricing stance comes as general-purpose DRAM prices surge and a supply shortage in the market remains unresolved, according to Chosun Ilbo. On that basis, industry sources cited by the outlet expect a supplier-favourable negotiating structure to continue through next year. [ 1 , 2 ]
Newsis reported that both HBM and mobile DRAM prices are rising and that securities firms are raising their expectations. The documents do not identify which customers are in the talks, and none include a comment from Samsung. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
Why it matters
HBM is a key input for AI accelerators, so a steep price rise would raise costs for memory buyers and could feed through to the wider chip supply chain. The reported shift also points to continued pricing power for suppliers while DRAM supply stays tight. The documents do not quantify the effect beyond the reported price talks.
Key facts
- Samsung Electronics reportedly presented sharply higher prices to major customers in negotiations over next year's HBM supply. [ 1 , 2 ]
- One Korean business outlet reported that Samsung's HBM price could roughly double, the highest among the three DRAM makers. [ 3 ]
- The reported price move reflects a surge in general-purpose DRAM prices and an unresolved market supply shortage, according to Chosun Ilbo. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Industry sources cited by Chosun Ilbo expect a supplier-favourable negotiating position to continue next year. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Samsung's main HBM product is shifting from fifth-generation HBM3E to sixth-generation HBM4. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Securities firms were reported to be raising their expectations as both HBM and mobile DRAM prices rise. [ 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- Whether the higher prices have been agreed with customers or only proposed. Chosun Ilbo describes the prices as having been presented in negotiations, and the documents do not say a deal was concluded.
- The exact size of the increase. Korea Economic Daily's headline says the HBM price could roughly double, while Chosun Ilbo only says sharply higher; the documents do not reconcile the two.
- The identity of the customers in the negotiations. The documents refer only to major customers without naming them.
- Samsung's own position on the reported pricing. No company statement is included in the documents.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Chosun Ilbo reports that Samsung presented sharply higher prices in next year's HBM supply talks, citing industry sources. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Korea Economic Daily reports that Samsung's HBM price could double, the highest among the three DRAM makers. [ 3 ]
- Newsis reports that HBM and mobile DRAM prices are rising and that securities firms are raising their expectations. [ 4 ]