[World DRAM Price] Spot Prices Show Some Signs of Recovery
December 13, 2000 (TOKYO) -- Nikkei Market Access announced that the DRAM spot prices on a daily basis rose in the week of Nov. 20.
There appeared to be some moves among makers to withhold shipments because of the extremely low prices.
Also, some makers have been holding onto inventory, expecting demand to increase in the spring of 2001. This move means that the makers will have to hold onto the inventory for three to four months, but they appear to have decided to move forward. If DRAM makers manage to hold down shipments, there is no doubt that prices will rise. However, whether the situation will develop in the direction the makers desire or not seems to be a gamble.
According to a survey of world DRAM prices conducted by ICIS-LOR, which has bases in London, Houston, and Singapore, the rolling average prices of 128Mb DRAMs (PC133, 16M x 8) for large-volume users in the 30-day period ended Nov. 24, 2000 (from Oct. 26 to Nov. 24, 2000) was US$13.82 in North America, US$9.92 in Europe, and US$13.56 in Asia. Compared with the previous week (the 30-day rolling average for the period ended Nov. 17), the prices remained the same in North America, fell 7.07 percent in Europe, and declined 6.76 percent in Asia.
As for prices of memory modules, the spot prices for 128MB DIMMs (PC133) declined 7.14 percent from the previous week to US$62.58 in North America, fell 6.88 percent to US$60.89 in Europe, and also fell 4.86 percent to US$56.32 in Asia.
Table: 30-Day Rolling Averages of 128Mb DRAMs (PC133, 16M x 8) Oct. 26-Nov. 24, 2000 (survey by ICIS-LOR)
Area
Contract price
Week-on-week comparison
North America
US$13.82
0.00%
Europe
US$9.92
-7.07%
Asia
US$13.56
-6.76%
*Week-on-week comparison is the comparison with the 30-day rolling averages of Oct. 19-Nov. 17, 2000.
Previous report:Declining Price Trend Continues Despite Year-End Sales Battle
(Nikkei Market Access) |
