Memory Bulletin: DRAM Up, NAND Horrible

For the week ended August 4, spot prices for NAND flash-memories "showed the steepest decline during the past eight consecutive weeks of downward pricing," according to Gartner Inc.

NAND spot prices fell by an average of $0.12 during the period compared to the previous week, standing at $2.17 on a 1-gigabit (Gbit) equivalent basis, according to the market research firm. Prices for 512-Mbit and 1-Gbit parts fell 8.5 and 12 percent, respectively, during the period, according to Gartner.

The price decline was the result of "purged inventory" of older parts, according to Gartner. Demand is expected to "firm up" in August, according to the research house.

Meanwhile, during the same period, DRAMs were up. DRAM spot prices rose by an average of 1.9 percent from the previous week, standing at $2.52 on a 256-Mbit basis, according to the firm.

Prices for DDR1 parts were stable-to-flat. "DDR2 devices showed a pricing recovery last week," according to Gartner.

Overall, DRAM sales hit $7.4 billion in Q2, up 13.8 percent sequentially and up 26.9 percent year-over-year, according to the firm. Q2 was the highest revenue for DRAMs since Q3 2000, when sales hit $9.3 billion, according to the firm.