TSMC price hike and memory cost surge hit Apple, Samsung

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) announced a 5‑10% price increase for its sub‑7 nm advanced process nodes, a move that could boost Samsung Electronics' foundry business as it expands its Taylor fab and AI chip orders. The price rise reflects tight capacity and soaring demand for AI semiconductors.

Apple CEO Tim Cook warned that memory prices have risen dramatically, describing the situation as a "once‑in‑a‑century flood." The surge in DRAM and NAND costs has squeezed Apple’s margins, prompting product price hikes and a push to source memory from Chinese suppliers alongside Samsung, SK Hynix and Micron. Both developments underscore growing cost pressures in the semiconductor supply chain affecting major technology firms.