DDR2 prices surge 60% as AI shortage hits oldest DRAM

DDR2 contract prices rose 55% to 60% in Q2 and are projected to climb another 35% to 40% in Q3. The AI-driven shortage pushed buyers to redesign products around older memory as Samsung, SK hynix, and Micron shifted wafer capacity toward HBM and server DRAM. Winbond is cutting DDR2 output while ESMT expands it.