Automakers have cut production of low profit autos to use the chips in the higher margin SUVs and trucks... I wonder how this is hurting laptop PC vendors who want to sell all the $2,000 laptops they can yet there is a lot of demand from low cost laptops for remote learning.
SSD controller supply stays tight
Siu Han, Taipei; Jessie Shen, DIGITIMES
Friday 5 February 2021
The supply of SSD device controller ICs remains tight, which may continue to boost SSD prices despite sufficient NAND chip supplies, according to industry sources.
NAND flash chipmakers will be ramping up 128- and 176-layer 3D NAND chip output, which will account for over 30% of their overall output in 2021. However, the supply of SSDs is still constrained by controller IC shortages, the sources indicated.
Besides, tight capacity at foundries and backend houses has resulted in rising manufacturing costs, which is challenging flash device controller suppliers, the sources said.
Flash device controller suppliers intend to give supply priorities to handset and PC OEMs, and data center vendors amid persisting supply tightness, the sources noted. Channel distributors and memory module firms are under increasing pressure to procure chips, resulting in a continued rally in SSD spot prices, the sources said.
Phison Electronics has said it is prioritizing shipments mainly to its major customers and for its own high-capacity NAND module devices amid the tight supply.
Phison has raised its controller IC prices by 15-20%, said company chairman KS Pua, adding that the chip supplier has seen some of its clients hike their prices by as much as 50%. Phison intends to give shipment priorities to orders for high-capacity devices for chip ASP growth, Pua noted.
Adata Technology has already built up its NAND and controller IC inventories to appropriate levels, according to the memory module maker. Adata expects its SSD shipments and revenue this year to outperform the 2020 levels.
SSD prices rise on tight supply
Photo: Digitimes file photo
digitimes.com |
