RAM prices in Indonesia have surged sharply due to the global chip crisis, with prices increasing up to four times within one month (20/01). The price hike has been recorded across several retail stores in Jakarta.

Observations by CNBC Indonesia at ITC Kuningan show that DDR4 and DDR5 RAM prices have risen gradually since the end of last year. Some products experienced steady increases, while others saw prices climb up to fourfold.

DDR4 and DDR5 RAM Prices Rise Sharply Across Retail Stores

A RAM seller named Hasan said prices can increase three to four times in a single week. He explained that monthly increases ranged from Rp 400,000 to Rp 600,000 before reaching nearly 100%, or around Rp 1 million.

According to Hasan, the price increase has been happening since October 2025 and is expected to continue until 2027.

Currently, DDR5 RAM with 32GB capacity is priced at Rp 7–8 million, while 16GB RAM costs more than Rp 2 million, up from around Rp 1 million previously.

Buyers Continue Purchasing Despite Higher RAM Prices

Hasan said buyers have no alternative but to purchase RAM at higher prices because laptops are still needed for work.

“As long as the laptop can still be used, just use it. If it breaks, then there is no choice. Because the work is done on a laptop,” he said.

Another seller, Nasrun, said the higher prices have not reduced the number of buyers. However, some customers choose to wait for prices to drop.

“If it goes down, no. Whether you want it or not,” Nasrun said.

Several sellers also stated that DDR5 prices have increased by around Rp 1 million, while DDR4 prices rose between Rp 400,000 and Rp 1 million. They added that RAM stock is still available, although availability can fluctuate.

IDC Explains Causes of the Global Chip Shortage

Separately, research firm IDC estimates that the supply-demand gap will worsen in the first half of 2026, leading to shortages and higher prices.

Vanessa from IDC said conditions may ease in the second half of the year, but prices are expected to remain high until early 2027.

She said the shortage is driven by the construction of large-scale AI data centers and by memory producers shifting capacity expansion and investment toward hyperscale and AI segments.

Rising RAM Prices Affect Used Device Markets

High demand for AI chips has caused manufacturers to prioritize AI-related production, reducing output of conventional chips used in consumer electronics such as smartphones, laptops, and household devices.

“In particular, the supply and manufacturing of lower-end memory such as DDR4, widely used in entry-level smartphones, continues to be reduced,” Vanessa said.

She added that the transition to DDR5 has not yet occurred on a large scale, and available supply is prioritized for hyperscale and AI.

At the same time, demand from smartphones, PCs, and the automotive sector, especially electric vehicles, continues to grow.

IDC also noted that rising prices could affect the used device market. In the PC and PC component sector, the impact is expected to be more noticeable because the second-hand market is already well established.

PHOTO: UNSPLASH

This article was created with AI assistance.

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