YMTC Rejects Apple Price Cuts, Boosting Samsung and SK Hynix DRAM Pricing Power

YMTC denies Apple's LPDDR5X discount request due to tight supply and domestic demand. This shift strengthens pricing leverage for Samsung and SK Hynix in global DRAM negotiations.

Woofun AI reports that YMTC has declined Apple’s request to lower prices for LPDDR5X and other mobile DRAM supplies intended for next-generation devices. The Chinese manufacturer is maintaining price levels comparable to or exceeding those of Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix. This stance is supported by long-term, high-value contracts with domestic clients like Huawei and Xiaomi, which secure production capacity and insulate YMTC from pressure to undercut competitors for Apple orders.

As major producers reallocate capacity toward high-bandwidth memory (HBM), the supply of general-purpose DRAM such as DDR5 and LPDDR5X is contracting, driving sustained price increases. YMTC’s absorption of significant domestic demand alleviates inventory pressure for Samsung and SK Hynix. Consequently, these Korean firms are strengthening their negotiating position for long-term contracts in the second half of the year, focusing resources on high-value AI storage products including HBM4, LPCAMM2, and enterprise SSDs.