Huaqiangbei memory prices surge, early signs of easing emerge

In Shenzhen’s Huaqiangbei market, the world’s largest electronics component hub, memory prices have risen sharply in July after a brief dip earlier in the year. Prices for new 16 GB DDR4 modules have climbed to about ¥600 per stick, up from ¥400‑¥500 in June, while DDR5 16 GB kits have jumped to roughly ¥1,500 from around ¥1,000 earlier in the year. Used 16 GB DDR4 modules, however, have begun to ease, falling more than 30 % from a peak of over ¥700 to about ¥450.

Hard‑disk SSDs remain near historic highs, with 1 TB units now costing ¥800‑¥900 versus ¥400 a year ago. Graphics‑card prices are largely stable, with only modest rises for high‑end models, while CPU prices have slipped as distributors cite structural adjustments. Dealers report cautious inventory practices, saying they “don’t stockpile, we sell as orders come in.” Consumer demand remains muted, with many buyers delaying purchases amid the elevated component costs.

The price surge reflects strong global AI demand tightening memory‑chip supply, pushing higher upstream costs through the supply chain to end‑users across smartphones, PCs, cameras and AI devices.