As you may know, SSD price is becoming scarce and expensive now. For example, we just need pay US$4.80 for common 1-TBit TLC SSD NAND chips in July, but prices have risen to US$10.70 (+123%). Even older MLC SSD chips have doubled. Since last month, this rapid inflation has only accelerated and may last until 2027.Do you know why?
To begin with, we need to know what does the SSD consist of ? An SSD Solid State Drive is made of NAND flash memory, a controller, and often a smaller amount of DDR RAM for caching and mapping tables. NAND flash is the primary component that stores data, while the controller is the “brain” that manages data read/write operations and error correction. DDR RAM, when included, serves as a high-speed cache to improve performance by storing mapping tables that tell the controller where data is physically located on the NAND flash.So Nand Flash, DDR RAM and Controller are the Key components of an SSD.
According to TrendForce, global NAND Flash wafer contract prices jumped 20%–60% in November, as AI-driven workloads and booming Enterprise SSD orders tightened supply across all densities. Manufacturers are prioritizing high-margin enterprise products, while legacy nodes shrink rapidly, leaving mainstream wafers in severe shortage.
1Tb TLC remains the hardest hit due to hyperscale demand. Surprisingly, 512Gb TLC saw the biggest surge — up more than 65% as older processes phase out. 256Gb TLC, 1Tb QLC, and even MLC all continued rising on tightening supply and stable industrial demand.
With wafer output unlikely to improve in the near term, suppliers hold strong pricing power.Currently, spot prices are quite volatile, with DDR4 chip prices continuing to rise with NAND Flash Spot Price Frequent adjustments of quotations within a single day.
From what we see across the SSD industry, this is not a temporary spike — it’s the beginning of a sustained, AI-driven supply crunch. For businesses relying on stable NAND supply — whether for enterprise servers, industrial devices, or consumer solutions — now is the time to plan ahead. Price volatility and supply shortages may intensify before they stabilize.
If you’d like insights on capacity planning, density selection, or long-term procurement strategies, I’m always open to a discussion. In a market moving this fast, the right partnership can make all the difference.
