Elevated DRAM average selling prices (ASPs) served as the primary driver for Q3 expansion. Although price growth decelerated compared to the first half of the year, ASPs reached $1.9 per gigabit (Gb), boosting total revenue.
Significant demand for AI accelerators and data centers propelled memory pricing and supplier profitability to record levels, as DRAM revenue expanded by 369% year-on-year in 3Q26, according to Counterpoint Research. Samsung maintained its leadership with a 38% share of the market.
SK hynix reported robust sequential growth, with revenue rising over 40% quarter-on-quarter, enabling it to reclaim share lost earlier in the year. Micron also reported strong performance driven by AI data center demand, though it grew at a slower rate than Samsung and SK hynix. CXMT's share decreased to 9% in Q3. As competitors begin shipping premium HBM4 in Q4, CXMT's share is expected to remain under pressure.
"This represents a pricing super-cycle rather than a volume cycle," stated Jeongku Choi, Senior Analyst at Counterpoint Research. "Bit shipments increased by only 4% this quarter, yet DRAM revenue reached nearly $200 billion, approximately five times the prior year's total. AI has transformed memory from a commodity into a scarce asset, and purchasers are now competing for supply rather than price. With rising costs, suppliers are positioned to achieve new record earnings next quarter."
Elevated DRAM average selling prices (ASPs) served as the primary driver for Q3 expansion. Although price growth decelerated compared to the first half of the year, ASPs reached $1.9 per gigabit (Gb), boosting total revenue. "Each new HBM generation is redefining market leadership," remarked MS Hwang, Research Director at Counterpoint Research. "SK hynix led in HBM3E, but its growth has moderated, while Samsung's HBM4 is receiving favorable customer reception. After stabilizing its earnings this year, Samsung is projected to lead the HBM segment next year."
"Memory pricing is expected to remain strong throughout next year. HBM costs, which trailed commodity DRAM this year, are now aligning. Long-term agreements (LTAs) are providing price support, and supply will remain constrained as major new facilities will not initiate production until 2028. While LTA terms may cause performance variations between suppliers in the short term, they are expected to follow a consistent upward trajectory,” Hwang added.
Regarding the product mix, HBM's share of DRAM revenue decreased despite revenue nearly doubling, as conventional DRAM (DDR/LPDDR) expanded at a faster rate. Commenting on this shift, Associate Director Brady Wang noted: "The emergence of agentic AI is stimulating unprecedented demand for standard DRAM. Our Cloud AI compute tracker indicates the GPU-to-CPU ratio has narrowed to 2:1 and is approaching 1:1. In NVIDIA's Vera Rubin rack, CPU DRAM per socket increases nearly threefold to 1.5 TB."
"This significant demand has propelled DDR and LPDDR ASPs to record levels, resulting in revenue growth of 500% and nearly 400% year-on-year, respectively. We are observing a notable increase in server CPU consumption and conventional DRAM usage, which will drive ASP per Gb higher next year and present challenges for edge markets," Wang concluded.
Significant demand for AI accelerators and data centers propelled memory pricing and supplier profitability to record levels, as DRAM revenue expanded by 369% year-on-year in 3Q26, according to Counterpoint Research.
The global tablet market contracted by 23% year-on-year to 32 million units during the third quarter of 2026, marking its lowest volume in nearly three years, according to Omdia.
The hydrogen sector is transitioning from its primary role as a mainstream fuel source toward a specialized utility for long-term grid balancing and energy adequacy.
