Global memory chip market projected to quadruple to nearly $1 trillion next year

The global memory chip market is expected to more than quadruple this year from a year earlier, driven by growing investment in AI infrastructure, industry data showed Friday.

The global memory market is projected to reach 1.5 quadrillion won ($975 billion) in 2026, up 4.2 times from 360 trillion won recorded last year, according to data from industry tracker Counterpoint Research.

The sharp growth is attributed to surging demand for server memory products, including dynamic random-access memory and NAND flash memory, as tech companies, particularly in North America, ramp up investments in AI infrastructure.

Server memory products are expected to account for 56 percent of total memory revenue this year, up from 37 percent in 2025, surpassing the halfway mark for the first time.

Counterpoint Research said the structural shift toward server-oriented memory products has become a key driver of growth in the memory market.

The research firm added that widening supply-demand imbalances stemming from strong server memory demand are pushing memory prices higher, with the upward trend expected to continue through the first half of next year.

Yonhap