Memory Executives Warn RAM Shortage Will Stretch Into 2028
Memory industry leaders say constrained DRAM and related supply will not ease quickly, with tightness expected to run through 2028. Forward pricing for 2027 is already described as materially higher than 2026 levels, reflecting strong demand from data centres, AI infrastructure, and mainstream PC and server refreshes.
For Melbourne and broader Australian businesses, prolonged memory tightness translates into practical budget and roadmap decisions. Local digital agencies, SaaS operators, and mid-market firms that refresh laptops, workstations, or on-prem servers may face longer lead times and steeper quotes. Cloud and colo customers should expect memory-sensitive instance types and managed database tiers to carry higher pass-through costs as global suppliers prioritise large hyperscale contracts.
What Australian teams can do now
MultiViews Australia recommends treating memory as a planning constraint rather than a spot purchase. Lock multi-quarter hardware forecasts with vendors, standardise device configurations to reduce SKU sprawl, and review cloud rightsizing so idle RAM is not inflating monthly bills. Where AI or analytics projects are queued, stage model and dataset work to match available capacity instead of assuming rapid hardware expansion at last year’s prices.
Procurement and finance leads in Victoria should also stress-test 2026–2028 capex and opex models against higher memory line items. Clear internal communication between IT, product, and finance reduces the risk of surprise delays on customer-facing releases that depend on new capacity.
