SK Group warns memory shortage may continue into 2030

SK Group now expects the memory shortage to last until 2030, extending a previously discussed timeline that pointed to late 2028. Chairman Chey Tae-won said the constraint is tied to wafer availability and the time needed to expand supply. “The shortage stems from a lack of wafer capacity, and securing additional wafers takes at least four to five years,” he said.

Chey also said, “We expect the industry-wide supply shortfall to persist at over 20 percent through 2030.” That outlook points to a prolonged imbalance between supply and demand across the memory market. SK Group is said to be exploring ways to stabilize pricing, although no clear timeline for that effort was given. In the near term, the immediate response is expected to fall to SK hynix CEO Kwak Noh-jung.

SK Group does not appear to be pursuing fab expansion outside South Korea. Chey said, “Korea already has the infrastructure in place, allowing for a much faster response. That is why we are concentrating our efforts here.” The company also does not seem ready to shift all of its attention to HBM memory, reflecting concern that doing so could deepen DRAM shortages and create broader disruption across the technology industry.