DRAMeXchange: DDR spot prices are flat, SDRAM bullish
Market Intelligence, DRAMeXchange; Jack Lu, DigiTimes.com [Wednesday 25 February 2004]
Spot prices for DDR were stable while SDRAM maintained its upswing in Asia from February 18-24, according to DRAMeXchange.
DDR spot prices
From February 18-24, spot prices for 256Mbit (32Mbitx8) 400Mhz, 333Mhz and 266Mhz DDR dropped 0.5%, 1.7% and 0.3% respectively.
After peaking in the second half of the year, DDR spot prices traditionally plunge in January and February and then rebound in March. However, pricing for January and February this year has not followed this pattern. DRAM output has slowed down, memory content per PC has increased and vendors have restocked inventory, DRAMeXchange said.
As of February 24, 2004, spot prices for 256Mbit (32Mbitx8) DDR 266MHz, for instance, dropped just 8.1% from November 1, 2003 compared to a 60% plunge for the same period last year. DDR pricing will turn bullish next month if demand picks up according to the historical pattern, DRAMeXchange projected.
Some positive signs have occurred, DRAMeXchange indicated. In the spot market, vendors have been buying aggressively when DRAM is quoted below market prices. This suggests that DRAM vendors expect DRAM prices to rise. In the contract market, DRAMeXchange forecasts that PC OEMs will soon begin to rebuild their current low inventory.
Samsung Electronics’s next readjustment of capacity allocation between DRAM and NAND flash will be the key to next month’s DRAM supply situation, DRAMeXchange noted.
SDRAM spot prices
From February 18-24, pricing for low density SDRAM continued to outperform other SDRAM due to strong demand. Pricing for 256Mbit (32Mbitx8) SDRAM remained weak amid increasing supply, said DRAMeXchange.
Contract prices for 1H March
DRAMeXchange projects contract prices will either stay flat or grow slightly for the first half of March. DRAM makers plans to raise prices to reflect strong spot prices and growing demand.
Feb 18-24: 256Mbit (32Mbit×8) DDR average spot prices (US$)
Feb 18
Feb 19
Feb 20
Feb 23
Feb 24
Change
DDR400
4.44
4.46
4.47
4.44
4.42
(0.5%)
DDR333
4.19
4.20
4.20
4.18
4.12
(1.7%)
DDR266
4.06
4.08
4.09
4.07
4.06
(0.3%)
Source: DRAMeXchange, compiled by DigiTimes, February 2004.
Feb 18-24: 256Mbit (32Mbit×8) DDR average spot prices (US$)
Feb 18
Feb 19
Feb 20
Feb 23
Feb 24
Change
16Mbit (1M×16) PC-166
1.19
1.20
1.23
1.24
1.24
4.2%
64Mbit (4Mbit×16) PC-166
3.51
3.52
3.67
3.72
3.73
6.3%
128Mbit (8Mbit×16) PC-133
3.84
3.85
3.88
3.91
3.95
2.9%
128Mbit (16Mbit×8) PC-133
4.50
4.50
4.59
4.60
4.66
3.6%
256Mbit (16Mbit×16) PC-133
5.10
5.10
5.10
5.10
5.10
-
256Mbit (32Mbit×8) PC-133
5.92
5.90
5.89
5.90
5.89
(0.5%)
Source: DRAMeXchange, compiled by DigiTimes, February 2004. |
