RAM Price Surge Squeezes PC Industry, Forcing Price Hikes and Configuration Cuts

The global consumer electronics market is facing significant turbulence resulting from the convergence of several economic and technological trends. The most pressing issue is the sharp rise in prices of RAM. According to the latest operational data from giants like HP, the costs of these modules have doubled sequentially, radically altering the structure of material expenditures. Just recently, operational memory constituted an acceptable fraction of a device's price, hovering around 15–18%. Currently, its share has increased to 35%, creating a situation analysts describe as 'asfixiante' (suffocating). Simultaneously in Europe, specifically in Spain, regulatory bodies and governments are attempting to stimulate the economy through new financial instruments and tax reliefs. The Spanish tax authority confirmed the possibility of deducting up to 3,000 euros from personal income tax (IRPF) for individuals who decide to purchase electric vehicles. This is part of a broader transport decarbonization strategy, which assumes a 15% rebate on the purchase value of a new car, provided its price does not exceed 20,000 euros. This program will be in effect until the end of 2026 and can be combined with additional state subsidies, which is intended to alleviate the general inflationary pressure felt by citizens. The semiconductor market has been characterized by cyclical price fluctuations for a decade, caused by so-called silicon cycles. The last major bull market for memory occurred after the COVID-19 pandemic, when a sudden demand for remote work depleted global component inventories. In capital markets, we are observing a change in the supervisory authorities' approach to new technologies and social media. The Chairman of the CNMV, Carlos San Basilio, warned against the occurrence of "irrational exuberance" in certain market sectors, particularly those related to cryptocurrencies and artificial intelligence. Nevertheless, the regulator plans to reform its code of conduct to more effectively regulate the use of AI in traditional financing. Interestingly, there has been a breakthrough in relations with so-called finfluencers. Instead of combating them, the regulator wants to leverage their reach to improve the financial education of the younger generation, which rarely uses traditional sources of banking information. „Es importante que el inversor sea más selectivo y que discrimine dónde está habiendo una exuberancia irracional frente a otros casos de exuberancia racional.” (It is important that the investor is more selective and can discriminate where there is irrational exuberance versus other cases of rational exuberance.) — Chairman of the Spanish National Securities Market Commission (CNMV) In the mobile electronics segment, manufacturers such as Xiaomi and Realme are trying to combat rising production costs through aggressive pricing policies in import channels. New models, equipped with advanced 4-nanometer processors and high-resolution cameras, are hitting the market at prices significantly lower than their flagship counterparts from a year ago. This is the result of cost optimization in areas other than RAM, allowing them to maintain sales in the face of a forecasted further increase in component prices in the second half of 2026.