DRAM supply shortage to persist next year: DRAMeXchange

SEOUL, Sept. 22 (Yonhap) -- The supply of dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) chips is expected to fall short of demand throughout next year, industry data showed Friday, casting a brighter outlook for the performances of South Korean chipmakers.

According to the report released by DRAMeXchange, the global supply of DRAM chips is expected to increase 19.6 percent on-year in 2018, which marks the lowest figure in the past few years.

DRAMeXchange said the outlook came as global DRAM chipmakers remain conservative in regards to aggressive capacity expansions.

"This is likely to keep prices at high levels like those during this year's second half," DRAMeXchange said. "While overall DRAM demand will remain high in 2018, new fabs being planned will not be ready for mass production until 2019 at the earliest," it also said.

Samsung Electronics Co. and SK hynix Inc. have been enjoying robust earnings throughout this year on the back of sound returns from chip sales.

colin@yna.co.kr
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