Korean vendors pump up DRAM prices

Original URL: https://www.theregister.com/2002/03/27/korean_vendors_pump_up_dram/

Milk it while you can

Posted in Channel, 27th March 2002 07:37 GMT

Korean DRAM makers are hiking production in the face of an apparent revival in the sector.

According to the Korea Times, Samsung Electronics expects demand to increase 40% to 45% this year, and will increase its total DRAM output by 50% this year. It plans to up production of 128Mb DRAMs by 62.5% this year, and at the same time will increase the proportion of 256Mb DRAM from 40% to 50% by the end of this year. Hynix Semiconductor plans to increase 128Mb production by 63%.

The company is currently negotiating the sale of its DRAM operations to US vendor Micron Technology. System vendors have made reference to increasing DRAM prices of late.

Apple Computer recently said DRAM increases, together with TFT screen prices, were the reason it increased the price of its latest iMac by $100. The high memory demands of Microsoft's XP operating system are another reason why the DRAM sector is seeing an increase in demand.