This rise in client SSD prices is reportedly faster than that of 3D NAND wafers, the core component of SSDs. Factors contributing to this trend include SSD manufacturers' purchasing strategies, a decrease in sales of related products, and limited stockpiling activities in recent months. TrendForce attributes changes in production capacity utilization rates by major manufacturers such as Kioxia and Western Digital (WDC) as key influences on market pricing, noting that other significant players have adopted more cautious production approaches. While client SSD users are facing steep price increases, the situation is even more challenging for enterprise SSD purchasers. TrendForce's analysis suggests that enterprise SSDs could see price hikes of 20-25% in Q2 2024, driven by strong demand from communication service providers in the US and China, unmet needs for high-capacity products, and anticipatory inventory building among some sectors.
