Samsung has reportedly allocated ~70% of its memory production capacity through 2031 to long-term supply agreements with major customers including NVIDIA, Microsoft and Google. The shortage is pushing spot pricing sharply higher: • HBM3E 36GB spot: ~$2,100, roughly 4-5x LTA pricing • HBM4 16-stack spot: ~$3,500 • DRAM export unit prices rose 36.6% from May to July even as volumes fell 13.2% Samsung is considering converting its Pyeongtaek S5 foundry line to memory production as early as next year. SK Hynix is also exploring additional capacity in Korea and a potential memory fab JV with a Japanese partner. Lower initial HBM4 yields are adding further pressure by consuming more DRAM capacity as production ramps. Source: Trendforce 31-AUG-2026 06:03 AM ET