China calls for DRAM price drop for second time

Chinese authorities have, for a second time, expressed concern over DRAM prices and this time have asked Samsung and SK Hynix to cut prices, at least for Chinese customers, with the threat in the background of anti-trust investigations, according to reports.

The three DRAM makers are already the subject of a class-action law suit alleging they colluded to raise prices of DRAM and thereby pushed price increases onto purchasers of equipment, such as smartphones and laptop computers (see Micron, Samsung, SK-Hynix pursued over DRAM pricing). The suit was filed by a class-action specialist Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP (Seattle, Washington) in the Northern District of California.

However, it now appears that China's government is preparing a similar line of enquiry. China reportedly consumes about 20 percent of global DRAM output and 25 percent of global NAND flash output.

Related links and articles:

Korea Times article

News articles:

China tells Samsung to put a lid on DRAM price, says analyst

Micron, Samsung, SK-Hynix pursued over DRAM pricing

Samsung, Apple bought 19.5% of global chip supply in 2017

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