Micron raises 64Mb DRAM contract prices…

Micron is firming up 64Mb DRAM contract prices a dollar to $9, and other memory chip makers are sure to follow, in the wake of the Taiwan Quake turmoil. DRAM spot prices are also on the march -- on 24 September, 64Mb chips (8 x 8Mb, PC-100) were trading in the US at over $20, according to Asia Biztech. Taiwan accounts for 12 per cent of the world's memory manufacture, and its producers have lost up to two weeks production in the busiest buying season for DRAM. Major memory buyers (the Compaqs, Kingstons and Hypertecs), which buy on contract, have been able to shield their customers a little from the DRAM feeding frenzy. But they receive only limited guarantees on price from the DRAM chip makers, which usually reserve the right to raise prices during the course of each contract. On 30 July, the 30-day rolling average contract prices for 64Mb DRAMs (8 x 8Mb PC100) were $6.18 for North America, $5.58 for Europe and $5.75 for Asia, according to ICIS-LOR. ®