25% of World’s DRAM Will be Consumed by Apple in 2015

According to a new report by TrendForce (via ComputerWorld), Apple’s consumption of mobile DRAM will grow from 16.5% of the industry’s total production volume today to 25% in 2015 as the Cupertino giant is outfitting more smartphones, tablets and even laptops with DRAM. It is believed that PC DRAM manufacturers will also switch to mobile DRAM to meet the company’s growing demand.

After rejoining the Apple supply chain, Samsung is adjusting 2015 production expansion plans. Aside from speeding up the inclusion of the DRAM 20nm process, the Korean electronics giant is also considering boosting its mobile DRAM production capacity. Meanwhile, DRAM manufacturer SK Hynix has expanded mobile DRAM production capacity as well to attract Apple orders. That strategy has borne fruit, as Apple has become its second largest mobile DRAM client.

“Since Apple is already a major player in the mobile DRAM market, PC DRAM manufacturers will switch to mobile DRAM to meet the company’s demands,” Avril Wu, assistant vice president of DRAMeXchange, said in a statement. “This has indirectly caused supply shortages in the PC DRAM and server DRAM sectors.”

SK Hynix’s M14 factory is still under construction, while its M10 will transform into a mobile DRAM Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM). DRAMeXchange believes changes at the M10 factory are aimed at offering Apple more flexible mobile DRAM production capacity. 

The report concludes that despite DRAM manufacturers’ continual production expansion, a balance between supply and demand can only be achieved if the manufacturers control production volume.