Memory Chip Prices Surge 7-9x in One Year, Driving Global Tech Product Inflation

According to South Korea's Ministry of Industry, Trade and Energy, DRAM (DDR5 16Gb) prices surged from $5.1 to over $40 per unit from June 2025 to June 2026, while NAND (128Gb) prices jumped from $3.1 to $28.8, driven by intense AI data center competition among global tech giants. South Korea's semiconductor exports reached $192.4 billion in the first half of 2026, up 162% year-over-year and already exceeding the full-year 2025 record of $173.4 billion.

The price spike has triggered product cost increases globally: Apple raised MacBook and iPad prices by up to $300 and $200 respectively, while Microsoft increased Xbox Series S pricing by $100. In the U.S., the June Consumer Price Index showed a 17.4% year-over-year surge in the "software and accessories" category, intensifying concerns about chipflation's political impact ahead of potential U.S. policy responses toward Korean and Taiwanese chip manufacturers.