SK hynix warns memory shortages may last until 2030

SK hynix has warned that shortages of RAM and flash memory could continue until at least 2030, according to reporting by Digital Today, a warning that points to sustained cost pressure on devices such as Apple's Mac line.

The memory maker says growth in the AI industry keeps pushing demand higher, while adding supply in the short term is difficult. SK hynix holds long-term contracts with 14 large tech companies that guarantee priority orders, but those agreements allow prices to be adjusted according to market conditions.

Apple is reported to be one of those 14 companies with priority access to memory supply. In June, Apple said it was working to reduce the impact of rising component prices, but it has not yet mitigated the effect.

Nikkei Asia reported separately that rising printed circuit board layer counts and higher bandwidth requirements are making manufacturing more complex. That reduces the number of available suppliers and lengthens lead times, adding further constraint to the supply chain.

Pressure builds across the chain

The combination of tight memory supply and more demanding board designs leaves device makers with fewer options and longer waits, a situation SK hynix expects to persist through the rest of the decade.