Major global PC makers including HP, Dell, Acer, and Asus are exploring Chinese memory chip suppliers as a prolonged global shortage keeps DRAM prices high and limits supply, according to a Nikkei Asia report (05/02).

The shortage is being driven by memory manufacturers shifting production capacity toward artificial intelligence hardware, forcing consumer electronics companies to reconsider long-standing sourcing strategies.

HP and Dell Begin Testing CXMT Memory Products

HP has started testing memory chips from ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT), China’s largest DRAM manufacturer, as part of efforts to expand its supplier base while global supplies remain tight.

The company plans to monitor market conditions until around mid-2026. If shortages persist and prices continue to rise, HP may begin using CXMT chips in products sold outside the United States, marking its first use of DRAM from a Chinese supplier.

Dell is also evaluating CXMT’s memory products. The company is concerned that DRAM prices could remain elevated through 2026, the report said.

AI Demand Redirects Memory Supply Away From PCs

Industry executives cited in the report said the shortage is largely due to major memory producers such as Micron, Samsung, and SK Hynix allocating more capacity to AI-focused customers.

These customers include companies such as Nvidia, Google, and Amazon, which are driving strong demand for high-performance memory.

As a result, consumer electronics makers operating on thinner margins are finding it harder to secure affordable supplies.

One supply-chain executive described Chinese memory companies as a potential “backup option” as traditional suppliers prioritise higher-value AI orders.

Contract Manufacturers Play Larger Role in Sourcing

The memory shortage is also changing relationships between PC brands and their contract manufacturers.

Chinese electronics manufacturing partners are increasingly being asked to help source key components, including memory chips.

Acer, the world’s sixth-largest PC maker, has relied more on Chinese partners for design and production to control costs.

Sources said Acer would be open to using China-made memory chips if its manufacturing partners procure them.

Acer chairman Jason Chen said that any new memory capacity coming online in China could help ease pressure in the market.

Chinese Memory Firms Expand Presence Amid Caution

Asustek, the world’s fifth-largest PC company, has asked its Chinese production partners to explore memory sourcing options for certain notebook projects.

Chinese memory firms already supply major domestic and regional players. CXMT’s DRAM chips are used by Chinese smartphone brands including Huawei, Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivo, as well as PC maker Lenovo and cloud companies such as Alibaba Cloud and ByteDance.

Yangtze Memory Technologies Corp., China’s leading NAND manufacturer, has expanded sales across Southeast Asia and launched solid-state drive products in Taiwan.

Counterpoint Research estimates CXMT holds about 5 per cent of the global DRAM market by revenue, while Yangtze Memory accounts for roughly 10 per cent of the NAND market.

Some industry executives remain cautious. One gaming PC executive said qualifying new memory suppliers usually takes around six months, and much of China’s new output may be reserved for domestic firms, limiting availability for overseas brands.

PHOTO: FREEPIK

This article was created with AI assistance.

We make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our content, some information may be incorrect or outdated. Please let us know of any corrections at [email protected].