Global Memory Shortage Crisis 2026: Market Analysis and the Potential Impact on your Business

Throughout 2025 we experienced a steady rise from manufacturers in the cost of Memory, numerous vendors warned of stock constraints & further price rises in Q4.

However in the last week, manufacturers from Cisco to HP are sounding the alarm & warning channel partners to brace for “pandemic levels” of shortages in 2026 that is predicted to drive up prices potentially well into 2027.

The global semiconductor ecosystem is experiencing an unprecedented memory chip shortage with knock-on effects for the device manufacturers and end users. DRAM prices have surged significantly as demand from AI data centres continues to outstrip supply, creating a supply/demand imbalance.

The tech industry is facing a substantial supply chain issue that will impact nearly every piece of hardware that uses memory or storage – laptops, desktops, servers, and potentially any device the uses RAM from TV’s to smartphones to cars.

Memory manufacturers have been redirecting their production capacity toward specialized chips used in artificial intelligence infrastructure. These newer, more complex products are more profitable, but the shift is creating a serious shortage of the standard memory and storage components that power everyday business technology.

Dell – which is reportedly hiking prices by up to 30% – warning partners that a surge in demand is outpacing supply.

“Delaying decisions or waiting until later in the procurement cycle may unfortunately result in significant disadvantages,”

Dell stated in an EMEA Strategic Partners Technology dated 15 December

https://www.businessinsider.com/dell-price-hikes-memory-demand-ai-chip-race-computer-2025-12

Our Recommendations

If you have any IT hardware purchases planned, now is the time to act. And when we say now, we mean now if at all possible.

The memory chip shortage is a real, industry-wide challenge that will have a significant effect on upcoming technology purchases across the board.

What We’re Doing To Reduce the Impact for our Customers

As a national technology distributor, we are working closely with our strategic partners to secure the best possible pricing and product availability for our retail & re-seller partners.

Our scale and close relationships with manufacturers give us advantages in navigating supply challenges like these.

We are monitoring this situation closely and maintaining constant communication with our vendor partners to understand availability and timing.

Please reach out to your account manager to discuss your options. We can help you evaluate & plan what makes sense for your business – we believe in keeping our clients informed so you can make the best decisions for your business.