Rumor
Supply chain shortages shift toward SSD and SRAM as Samsung and TSMC manage production
Monday, March 23, 2026 at 06:56 AM
Supply chain shortages are shifting from DRAM to SSD and SRAM components, with Samsung and TSMC expected to lead production for the latter.
Context
As of March 2026, the global semiconductor supply chain is experiencing a critical pivot as the long-standing DRAM shortage evolves into acute deficits of SSD and SRAM components. This shift is driven by a massive reallocation of manufacturing capacity; major memory players like Samsung Electronics are phasing out legacy production, such as the Hwaseong Line 12 planar NAND, to prioritize high-margin HBM and advanced 1c DRAM nodes required for AI data centers. Consequently, Samsung has reportedly revised its annual NAND wafer production downward to 4.68 million wafers to bolster profit margins.
This tightening supply is being exacerbated by TSMC and Samsung managing tight production schedules for high-performance logic and cache. With TSMC having entered volume production of its 2nm (N2) process in Q4 2025, the competition for advanced wafer starts is intense. Investors should note that these shortages are already impacting downstream markets, with SSD prices climbing and major consumer electronics launches, including next-generation gaming consoles, facing potential delays or price hikes through 2027.
Sources (11)
Samsung Austin Semiconductor’s two campuses pump $19.8B into Central Texas economy in 2024 | Samsung Semiconductor GlobalTSMC Unveils Next-Generation A14 Process at North America Technology SymposiumSamsung Announces New NAND Flash Facility to Address ...The AI frenzy is driving a memory chip supply crisis | ReutersRAM price hikes: the latest on the global memory shortage | The VergeSamsung reportedly exits 2D NAND, converts Hwaseong Line 12 to 1c DRAM end fabTSMC begins quietly volume production of 2nm-class chips — first GAA transistor for TSMC claims up to 15% improvement at ISO power | Tom's HardwareScaling the Memory Wall: The Rise and Roadmap of HBM
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