SK hynix says the memory shortage will last until 2030

SK hynix, one of the world's biggest memory makers, says the memory shortage will last until 2030. The company expects AI-driven demand to keep outpacing supply. That matters for PC gamers watching RAM and graphics card prices.

Key facts

• Announced: October 28, 2026, with Q3 (3Q26) results
• Revenue: 104.6155 trillion won (over 100 trillion for the first time)
• Operating profit: 83.3338 trillion won, an 80% margin
• Outlook: demand exceeding supply through 2030
• Long-term agreements: over half of 2027-2028 capacity
• HBM4 expected to become the mainstream product in Q4

What did SK hynix say about the memory shortage?

SK hynix released its third quarter results on October 28. Its official press release includes a section with a blunt heading: the memory supply shortage will persist through 2030. The company gives two reasons.

The first is the technical difficulty of leading-edge processes. The second is the long lead time needed to build new fabs. SK hynix admits supply isn't keeping pace with the market. It expects demand to exceed supply until 2030.

The company says AI is the main driver. Enterprise and personal AI lead in the short term. Over the mid to long term, it points to physical AI such as autonomous driving and robotics.

A record quarter in numbers

Item	3Q26	2Q26	Change
Revenue	104.6155 trillion won	79.3187 trillion won	32%
Operating profit	83.3338 trillion won	60.5426 trillion won	38%
Operating margin	80%	76%	+3 pts
Net income	39.7756 trillion won	93.9226 trillion won	-58%

Wccftech puts the revenue at roughly $78.1 billion. SK hynix stressed that revenue topped 100 trillion won for the first time in its history. Server DDR5 sales and HBM4 shipments, which began in earnest, drove the growth. On the NAND side, sales of 321-layer TLC eSSDs went up.

Half the capacity is already spoken for

Another detail stands out. SK hynix has signed long-term agreements with 14 major customers, including big cloud providers. Those deals cover more than half of its 2027 and 2028 production capacity. Contract terms are typically five years.

The company is expanding output as well. Its 10nm-class sixth-generation (1c) process will quickly take a larger share. The M15X fab will hit full capacity by year-end, and Yongin Phase 1 enters full operation next year. Even so, by the company's own forecast, that won't end the shortage before 2030.

What does it mean for PC gamers?

The SK hynix release doesn't give any figures for consumer RAM prices. Its focus is AI data centers. But the graphics card market is clearly tied to this shortage. According to Wccftech, memory and chip shortages have already pushed GPU prices up across every vendor.

Wccftech also reports that board partners are receiving far fewer GPU and memory kits from NVIDIA. It spotted ZOTAC listing the RTX 5090 SOLID OC in Japan for 1,190,000 yen including tax, about $7,535. The card is mostly out of stock at major US retailers.

In short, cheap RAM or GPUs look unlikely any time soon. If you're planning a build or upgrade, it pays to compare prices across several stores. For more on AI's impact on gaming, see our story on Tim Sweeney's reaction to Steam's AI disclosures. Our pieces on Capcom's record first-half sales and Microsoft's voluntary exit offer add more industry context.

FAQ

When will the memory shortage end?

According to SK hynix's October 28, 2026 announcement, demand will exceed supply through 2030. It blames the difficulty of leading-edge processes and the long time it takes to build new fabs.

Will the memory shortage affect RAM prices?

SK hynix didn't give consumer price figures. According to Wccftech, memory and chip shortages have already pushed graphics card prices higher.

How much did SK hynix earn?

SK hynix reported 104.6155 trillion won in revenue and 83.3338 trillion won in operating profit for Q3 2026. It was the first time revenue passed 100 trillion won.

Sources

• SK hynix Newsroom: SK hynix Announces 3Q26 Financial Results
• Wccftech: SK Hynix says memory shortages to persist through 2030
• Wccftech: Palit says GALAX is going nowhere
• Wccftech: ZOTAC puts the RTX 5090 up for sale at $7500 in Japan