The memory crisis deepens: next year could be the worst for the PC market

The memory shortage, driven by the artificial intelligence boom, continues to put serious pressure on the entire electronics industry. According to SK hynix forecasts, 2027 could become the most challenging year for the industry in terms of supply, and the imbalance between demand and production will persist at least until the end of the decade.

SK hynix forecasts

SK hynix CEO Kwak Noh-Jung stated that demand for memory is growing significantly faster than companies can expand production capacity. Despite massive investments in new factories, the shortage will persist for a long time. The company, together with Samsung, is participating in South Korea's state program to double memory chip output over the next five years, but this may prove insufficient.

PC market falls for the first time in two years

Data from analytical firm IDC confirms the seriousness of the situation. In the latest quarter, global personal computer shipments fell by 5% compared to the same period last year, totaling 68.2 million units. This ended a nine-quarter streak of growth.

The reason is an acute memory shortage. Server and AI equipment manufacturers are actively buying up DRAM and HBM chips, leading to rising prices and reduced available volumes for the consumer segment.

Consequences for buyers

Rising production costs are already leading to higher prices for finished devices. Apple, for example, raised the price of the MacBook Neo from $600 to $700, and the base version of the MacBook Air to $1,300. Analysts warn that price increases could affect other brands in the second half of 2026.

Experts forecast that the memory shortage could persist until 2028. This could lead to changes in consumer behavior — people will keep older devices longer, postponing new purchases.

Positive aspects

Despite the decline in units shipped, manufacturers' revenues continue to grow due to higher average prices. The only major player to increase shipments was Apple — thanks to strong demand for the MacBook Neo, its share of the global market rose to nearly 10%.

In brief

SK hynix warns that 2027 could be the most challenging year for the memory market due to the ongoing shortage. Demand for AI chips significantly outpaces production capacity growth. As a result, the global PC market has shown a 5% decline in shipments for the first time in two years. Prices for computers and other electronics continue to rise, which could lead to further sales slowdown. The shortage is forecast to persist at least until the end of the decade.