At the recent Jiwei Storage Forum in Shanghai, industry experts forecasted that the memory chip market will remain in a supply-constrained state through 2027. While growth in storage prices showed a slight moderation in Q2 2026, marking a short-term consolidation, 2027 remains the pivotal year for long-term price trajectory evaluation.
The growth driver is a structural shift in AI computing: momentum is moving from large-scale cloud-based training to edge-side inference. This transition has unlocked immense potential for niche memory products—including small-capacity DDR3/DDR4, NOR Flash, SLC NAND, and EEPROM—which offer the low-power and fast-response characteristics essential for edge-deployed AI models.
Simultaneously, the upstream supply chain faces volatility. The price of "computing metal" tin has surged nearly 40% in six months, reaching approximately 420,000 RMB per ton. Leading producers note that the market remains in a state of tight equilibrium, as rising raw material costs exert upward pressure on terminal memory pricing.
[AgentUpdate Depth Analysis] The evolution of the memory industry from a purely performance-driven market to one defined by scenario-specific optimization is a direct consequence of the rise of AI Agents. Edge-side inference requires more than mere capacity; it demands superior energy efficiency and ultra-low latency, revitalizing niche storage technologies like NOR Flash and SLC NAND for autonomous edge operations. Unlike the compute-memory separation architecture of cloud models, edge-based agents prioritize data locality. In the future, Compute-in-Memory (CIM) will likely emerge as the crucial intersection between memory vendors and the Agent ecosystem. Domestic players must transcend cyclical price dependencies by focusing on IP integration for edge-AI specific tasks. If compute acts as the engine for Agents, optimized edge storage serves as the essential "synaptic system." The long-term value lies in providing compact, integrated storage solutions that act as the hardware gatekeepers for the next generation of embodied and edge-AI Agents. Transitioning from commodity suppliers to systems-level partners is essential for memory firms to escape the industry's historical boom-bust cycle.
