Nikkei Asia first reported that SK Hynix, a key Apple memory supplier, expects RAM and flash storage shortages to last until at least 2030, keeping prices high. Apple is reportedly among 14 customers that have secured priority orders from the company, but with contracts that allow prices to rise according to market conditions.
The 14 buyers are expected to take more than half of SK Hynix’s output in 2027 and 2028, and some want to extend their agreements. The long-term contracts include a pricing mechanism that reflects market conditions within an agreed range, according to the report (via 9to5Mac).
SK Hynix blames AI-driven demand for the tightness and says supply is limited by the technical difficulty of leading-edge processes and the long lead times for new production facilities. The size of the increases Apple may face has not been disclosed, and the 14 customers have not been named. Apple said in June that it was doing its best to mitigate the price increases but has so far been unable to do so.
Printed circuit boards may be next
Nikkei Asia also predicts that printed circuit boards could be the next component with constrained supply. Boards were once a commodity, but more layers and higher bandwidth requirements are making them more specialised, shrinking the pool of suppliers and extending lead times. That is a prediction rather than a current shortage, and it is not confirmed that Apple is one of SK Hynix’s priority customers.