Contract prices for DRAM memory held flat in the second half of February. The average prices of 2GB and 4GB DDR3 modules stayed unchanged at US$16.50 and US$32, respectively.
Meanwhile, late February prices for corresponding 1Gb and 2Gb DDR3 chips averaged US$0.88 and US$1.84, respectively.
Industry sources speculate DRAM contract prices for March stand a good chance of trending upward, as the quotes are still lower than spot market prices.
Spot prices have been relatively stable compared to earlier fluctuations, the sources indicated. Prices had previously rebounded to US$1.10-1.20 from 0.70-0.80.
Spot prices for 1Gb and 2Gb DDR3 chips closed down almost 1% to average US$1.09 and US$2.11, respectively, on February 24.
In other news, Elpida Memory president and CEO Yukio Sakamoto recently commented that the DRAM market is moving toward a more balanced supply/demand situation, as DRAM inventory at PC OEM companies continues to drop. Sakamoto also revealed Elpida's plans to raise prices for March.