Trend Force research shows mature‑node DRAM supply tightening forces buyers into legacy DDR2 and DDR3, driving contract prices up. Trend Force estimates DDR2 contract prices will rise 55‑60% in Q2 26 and another 35‑40% in Q3 26.

With advanced‑node production prioritized, wafer allocations for DDR4 shrink, pushing consumer‑DRAM buyers toward Taiwanese vendors such as Nanya and Winbond. These suppliers reallocate capacity to higher‑margin products, tightening DDR2 supply and prompting OEMs to downgrade specifications, swapping DDR4 for DDR3 or DDR3 for DDR2.

Winbond’s gradual exit from DDR2 production and ESMT’s expansion of DDR2 capacity create a supply gap that will make DDR2 scarcer and pricier. Designers will adopt lower‑capacity or older‑generation memory to secure reliable allocations.