Samsung Boosts RAM Production to Retain Apple Amid Chip Shortage

In response to the ongoing global memory shortage that has significantly impacted the pricing of smartphones, laptops, and various electronic devices, Samsung is reportedly taking strategic steps to ensure it retains one of its major clients, Apple. According to a report from the South Korean news outlet Sedaily, Samsung has established a specialized task force within its Memory Manufacturing Technology Center to create a new 'end fab' at its Hwaseong Campus Complex 1. This facility will handle the final stages of wafer manufacturing, which is currently conducted at separate locations, including Hwaseong Complex 2 and the Cheonan Campus. By consolidating these processes, Samsung aims to enhance efficiency and reduce the time and resources spent transporting wafers between different sites. An industry insider noted that combining the main and end fabrication processes would allow for bulk transfers to the back-end processing line, thereby improving logistics and overall productivity. Instead of constructing a brand-new facility, Samsung plans to utilize existing cleanroom spaces at Hwaseong Complex 1, which became available after the demolition of older memory production lines. This approach is expected to be both time-efficient and cost-effective.

If the reported plans come to fruition, Samsung anticipates a significant increase in its general-purpose DRAM production, projecting a growth of approximately 15 percent by the end of 2026 compared to the beginning of the year. This expansion aligns with a period of steep price hikes in the memory market, particularly for commodity DRAM, which has surged over 80 percent in the first half of 2026. This price escalation is largely driven by heightened demand associated with artificial intelligence infrastructure. Samsung, along with its competitors SK Hynix and Micron, dominates the global DRAM market, controlling around 90 percent of it. This concentration of power allows these suppliers to exert considerable influence over pricing trends across the electronics sector.