DRAM supply shortage seen to continue
The shortage of DRAM chips will continue through to the end of the year, keeping prices at high levels, according to U.S. research firm Dataquest.
The supply of DRAM chips in the fourth quarter is estimated at 762 million units, up 24.5 percent from the third quarter, while demand will increase to over 764 million, Dataquest said in a report on the DRAM market's outlook.
In particular, the supply of 64M DRAM chips in the fourth quarter is estimated at only 485 million units, less than the demand of 493 million.
Commenting on the report, a Korean semiconductor industry source said, "The DRAM supply shortage will be more serious than Dataquest forecast as the firm's outlook is based on a conservative analysis."
Dataquest estimated supply in the third quarter at 612 million, far greater than the demand of 593 million, but DRAM prices doubled from the second quarter.
"The DRAM shortage will continue for a while as semiconductor makers have scarcely expanded facilities," the source added.
The report also predicted DRAM supply will slightly exceed demand in the first and second quarters of next year but the third and fourth quarters will see shortages again. (HJJ)
Updated: 09/21/1999 |
