Global DRAM Revenue Surges to Near $100-billion Mark in Q1 2026 Driven by AI Data Center Boom
- Global DRAM revenue skyrocketed 80% QoQ and 260% YoY in Q1 2026 to a record high of $97 billion.
- Samsung Memory continued to lead with SK Hynix and Micron in second and third place, respectively.
- CXMT is rapidly expanding its share and is currently the fastest growing DRAM player with 700%+ annual growth.
Seoul, Beijing, Berlin, Buenos Aires, Fort Collins, Hong Kong, London, New Delhi, Taipei, Tokyo – May 26, 2026
Global DRAM revenue surged 80% sequentially in Q1 2026 to reach an all-time high driven by unprecedented demand and further boosted by memory pricing that also reached record levels during the quarter. High Bandwidth Memory (HBM) and growing LPDDR5 content in AI Data Center infrastructure also played key roles in driving this growth.
Samsung captured a 38% market share during the quarter, widening its lead over SK Hynix. The two players were in a close contest last year for leadership in DRAM revenue before Samsung reclaimed the top spot in Q4 2025.
Micron maintained its share steady in Q1 2026. The company has been aggressively ramping up its capacity to capture additional demand and share in the market.
However, AI growth is also helping CXMT capture the growing domestic DRAM demand in China – from smartphones to servers. CXMT is also receiving a top-line boost from rising DRAM chip prices, which was the most notable development in Q1 2026. CXMT's DRAM revenue surged more than 700% YoY, cementing its position as a solid No. 4 supplier with its market share more than doubling to 8%. The company is also gearing to raise significant capital via upcoming IPO filing to ramp up its capacity for DRAM production and enter the AI Data Center HBM market with full force in the coming years.
Global DRAM Revenue Market Share by Supplier, Q1 2025 - Q1 2026
DRAM average prices are continuously on the rise, according to Counterpoint’s Monthly Memory Price Tracker. Prices are expected to rise further in Q2 2026 by 50% QoQ (including both HBM and commodity DRAM), signaling another blockbuster quarter.
Companies like Samsung and Micron are moving quickly to expand capacity and reinforce their lead in next-generation technology in response to the competitive push from upcoming firms like CXMT. This expansion will have a positive ripple effect on the supply chain and memory shortage. The overall DRAM market is projected to grow more than 300% annually for the full year 2026.
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Author
Jeongku Choi
Jeongku Choi is a Research Analyst at Counterpoint Research based in Seoul, Korea. As an engineer in LG Electronics, she was responsible for commercializing the latest technologies for new products in mobile and automotive. Also analyzing and strategizing the latest Android technology was one of her roles. Her interests are mobile, mobility, AI, and emerging technologies.