RAM memory prices have become a nightmare for anyone trying to buy a computer, mobile phone or console. Samsung, SK hynix and Micron —which control around 90% of global DRAM production— have diverted much of their manufacturing lines towards high-bandwidth memory (HBM), the component that powers Nvidia's AI accelerators and other corporations. The result is evident: the consumer market has been left to fend for itself, DDR4 and DDR5 modules are scarce and even Apple has increased the price of MacBooks and iPads by 20% directly blaming this bottleneck. As detailed by xataka.com, in this market gap only two Chinese names are capable of providing some relief: CXMT and YMTC.

The impressive rise of Chinese manufacturers

CXMT (ChangXin Memory Technologies) is experiencing growth that seemed impossible just two years ago. The company has increased its net profit by more than 1,688% in a single quarter and now holds a global market share of 7.67% according to Omdia data, making it the world's fourth largest manufacturer and China's largest. It has also signed a contract with Tencent valued at approximately 2.75 billion dollars to supply DRAM for servers.

Meanwhile, YMTC (Yangtze Memory Technologies Co.) has increased its market share in NAND Flash chips from 8% to 13% in just one year. The company is preparing a new plant in Wuhan whose mass production will begin during the second half of 2026, positioning it as the world's third largest NAND manufacturer behind only Samsung and Kioxia.

An unexpected strategic shift

Most significantly, YMTC has decided to dedicate 50% of its third Wuhan plant's capacity to DRAM manufacturing, marking an unprecedented foray into the territory dominated by its compatriot CXMT. This move underscores China's determined push to break technological dependence and capture market share in the global memory sector.

Shadows on the horizon

However, it is wise to keep expectations in check. As the industry discovered at Computex, CXMT's prices are already beginning to resemble those of Samsung, SK hynix or Micron, suggesting that the much-anticipated competition has not yet translated into tangible savings for consumers. Furthermore, much of these manufacturers' production remains destined for the Chinese domestic market.

The geopolitical factor should not be ignored either. CXMT appears on the Pentagon's 1260H list due to its presumed links with the People's Liberation Army, something that has forced Apple to pressure the Trump Administration to purchase chips from it without retaliation. Any change in Washington could block this escape route just when we need it most.

When will relief arrive?

The industry estimates that the flood of capacity from CXMT and YMTC will not reach the global market until 2027. China is not going to resolve this crisis overnight, but today it is the only piece on the board moving in the right direction. What happens in the coming months both in Chinese factories and in Washington's corridors will determine whether we can restore sanity to prices that, for now, remain in poor taste.