Memory prices rising
Barbara Jorgensen
While it may not be the best news for buyers, the beleaguered semiconductor market may see a ray of hope as some memory prices begin to firm up on the spot market.
According to the American IC Exchange, Mission Viejo, Calif., 4-Mbit x 4 fast-page-mode DRAMs appear to be tight in the market; prices have been climbing since the last week of August, hitting $2.47 last week.
Also exhibiting price increases are 4-Mbyte x 4 and 8-Mbyte x 32 FPM SIMMs, incorporating 4-Mbit x 4 DRAM chips, said AICE (www.aice.com), which tracks spot-market prices through its RAMDEX index.
The uptick is likely associated with several factors, according to analysts and distributors. One is a seasonal rise in demand, as OEMs begin to ramp up for the holiday season. Beyond that, some DRAM vendors are taking an aggressive stance on pricing in an effort to stimulate earnings, which have been battered by more than three years of falling prices. In particular, NEC Corp. has said it will raise its prices on some DRAM products.
Market watchers warn that the uptick may be short-lived, however. Once the seasonal adjustment is over, predictions for the end of the current oversupply market extend as far out as 2000.
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