Trading of DRAM at the spot market has shown no signs of weakness during the week before Christmas. The price of mainstream 1Gb DDR2 chips rallied by around 12% over the past week.
Average prices for 800MHz 1Gb DDR2 chips and the 1300MHz 1Gb DDR3 segment rose 2.39% and 3.51%, respectively, in one day to close at US$2.57 and $2.59 yesterday (December 24).
Demand actually defied seasonal trends in December, contrasted to the tough start of the year, industry sources in Taiwan commented. Suppliers did unload inventory to bolster their annual financial results as usual, but trading has not slowed down, the sources indicated.
Some PC OEMs have begun preparing stocks for Lunar New Year holiday sales in advance, while anticipating strong replacement demand and tighter supply, according to the sources.