It’s a rather amusing situation because, on the one hand, the major memory manufacturers have a full order book for 2027. On the other hand, they are unable to meet 100% of the demand, yet we’re told they’d “be upset” if OEMs turned to alternative sources of memory. In this context, major OEMs like ASUS, Acer, and HP are reportedly turning to memory from the Chinese manufacturer CXMT, though they aren’t exactly bragging about it either.
ASUS, Acer, and HP are reportedly using CXMT memory!
Limited adoption!
We’ve known for some time that the situation in the memory market is tight. Naturally, if we know this, the OEMs are also aware of it since they’re on the front lines. In fact, the fact that some are testing memory from the Chinese manufacturer CXMT is an open secret. However, it seems we’re now seeing concrete examples of this memory being integrated intolaptops. That said, it’s worth noting that these cases remain limited, both in terms of quantity and the number of available models.
A Supplier Sanctioned in the U.S.:
The first thing to know is that the Chinese manufacturer reserves the bulk of its production for China. Naturally, the quantities available for export remain limited. Second, it’s important to note that the equipped machines aren’t intended for the United States, which has placed the Chinese company under sanctions… Obviously.
But shh—let’s not say that too loudly!
Next, we learn that an executive at a majorPC manufacturer told Nikkei Asia thatOEMs must remain cautious and discreet. Indeed, they’re caught between a rock and a hard place, since they need memory to continue producing and offering products without upsetting the memory “cartel,” which accounts for 90% of the global supply of DRAM and NAND flash. Imagine if Samsung, SK Hynix, or Micron took offense and blacklisted anOEM the size of ASUS or HP, or cut back on supplies during negotiations: the situation would immediately become very complicated in a market where production is already allocated!
In short, while CXMT may provide some breathing room, quantities remain limited, and OEMs that choose this path must be particularly agile in their dealings with the three major, long-standing memory suppliers.
