Global DRAM revenue reached a historic high of $97 billion in the first quarter of 2026, driven by strong market demand and rising memory prices. Revenue increased by 80% quarter-over-quarter and 260% year-over-year. The growing application of High Bandwidth Memory (HBM) and LPDDR5 in AI data center infrastructure were significant factors contributing to this growth.
Samsung secured a 38% market share in Q1 2026, extending its lead over SK Hynix. The competition for the top DRAM revenue ranking was intense last year, with Samsung regaining the lead in the fourth quarter of 2025. Micron maintained a stable market share in Q1 2026. The company is actively expanding production capacity to meet more market demand and further increase its market share.
Meanwhile, the growth in AI demand is helping ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT) capture increasing domestic DRAM demand in China, ranging from smartphones to servers. Additionally, rising DRAM chip prices further boosted CXMT's revenue performance, a key market trend in Q1 2026. CXMT's DRAM revenue grew by over 700% year-over-year, solidifying its position as the world's fourth-largest DRAM supplier, with its market share doubling to 8%. CXMT is preparing for an upcoming IPO to raise funds to further expand DRAM production capacity and fully enter the AI data center HBM market in the coming years.
According to monthly memory price tracking reports, average DRAM prices have continued to rise. Prices are expected to increase by another 50% quarter-over-quarter in Q2 2026 (including both HBM and standard DRAM), indicating another strong quarter for the market.
Faced with competitive pressure from emerging players like CXMT, established manufacturers such as Samsung and Micron are accelerating capacity expansion and strengthening their next-generation technology roadmaps to consolidate their market leadership. This expansion trend is expected to have a positive impact on the supply chain and alleviate tight memory supply conditions. The overall DRAM market is projected to achieve annual growth exceeding 300% for the full year 2026.