Samsung's co-CEO has given a glimpse of what to expect from memory shortages moving forward, stating that no consumer industry will be immune to them.
Samsung's Co-CEO Says Memory Shortages Would Now Affect TVs & Home Appliances As Well
Memory shortages have become a mainstream issue in the tech industry, as their severity is increasing with each passing day. Just recently, we reported on how DRAM contract prices are expected to rise by more than 50% in Q1 2026, which is why suppliers like Samsung and SK hynix aren't ready to enter into LTAs, and somewhat shorter agreements. In a statement by Samsung's co-CEO TM Roh discussing the company's semiconductor business, he disclosed that the memory shortages are expected to put pressure on consumer offerings, yet the semiconductor division is expected to benefit.
"As this situation is unprecedented, no company is immune to its impact," Roh said, adding that the crisis affects not only mobile phones but other consumer electronics, from TVs to home appliances.
He did not rule out raising product prices, saying some impact was "inevitable" from a surge in memory chip prices, but Samsung, the world’s No.1 TV maker, is working with partners on longer term strategies to minimise the impact.
- Reuters
When we see TM Roh discussing memory shortages, it is clear that the situation has become significantly more challenging for mainstream companies, particularly in managing the balance between supply and demand. We do know that both SK hynix and Samsung are struggling to increase production capacities, and even if they do in the shorter term, all of the newer additions will be allocated to the AI sector, leaving consumers in uncertainity. Roh says that shortages will also impact TVs and home appliances, which is another interesting development.
As of now, memory shortages are projected to last until 2027, and possibly beyond, considering how DRAM demand increases with each passing quarter. More importantly, Big Tech isn't giving up its pursuit of developing data centers and AI infrastructure, which means that as long as the AI bandwagon continues, consumers will face supply constraints across multiple segments.
About the author: Muhammad Zuhair is a hardware and technology reporter for Wccftech, specializing in the semiconductor industry and the complex interplay between technology, manufacturing, and geopolitics. His coverage focuses on the corporate strategies and technological roadmaps of industry giants like TSMC, NVIDIA, Samsung, and Intel. Zuhair's expertise lies in deconstructing complex topics such as fabrication nodes (e.g., 2nm process), the economic impact of policies like the CHIPS Act, and the strategic development of AI infrastructure from NVIDIA, AMD and Intel.
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