DRAM contract prices for the second half of April 2011 rose at a slower rate compared to about 6% growth in the former part of the month.
Late April contract prices for 2GB and 4GB DDR3 modules grew about 1.4% to US$18-18.50 and US$35-36, respectively. Prices for corresponding 1Gb and 2Gb chips came above US$1 and US$2, respectively, during the period.
Speculation remains that bottlenecks in the availability of silicon wafers and other manufacturing-use raw materials could negatively impact the worldwide DRAM industry supply chain. PC OEMs have therefore prepared inventory in advance.
Companies which had experienced difficulties in sourcing blank wafers have sought out alternatives. Elpida Memory, for instance, now holds sufficient wafers through July.
Elpida is one of the affected chip companies, which saw major wafer producers hit by the March 11 disaster and power blackouts in Japan.
In addition, several chip suppliers saw shipments interrupted by yield challenges beyond 50nm, which affected supplies and prices in April. It did not disclose any names.