Elon Musk warning Samsung and SK Hynix over DRAM and HBM pricing?

Elon Musk has praised Micron for keeping future DRAM and HBM memory prices reasonable while accusing other suppliers, certainly Samsung and SK Hynix, of exploiting the current market shortage.

The comments of trillionaire Elon Musk put Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix under scrutiny as AI infrastructure demand strengthens their pricing power.

On October 14, Musk took to X to criticize memory suppliers over their pricing strategies, arguing that customers would remember how chipmakers treated them during the ongoing supply crunch.

Although he did not explicitly name Samsung or SK Hynix, his praise for Micron, one of the three major DRAM suppliers, points toward their pricing policies.

Micron has been reasonable regarding future memory prices, while others have been extortionate, which is something today’s customers won’t forget …

Micron is making is the smart move for long-term customer loyalty.

Micron has reportedly secured 26 long-term agreements, with contracts covering over 75% of its output for fiscal 2027. Such commitments offer customers greater supply visibility while giving Micron a clearer picture of future demand.

The criticism comes as AI companies compete for DRAM and high-bandwidth memory (HBM), two essential components for building and operating AI infrastructure.

As per JPMorgan’s market outlook cited in the discussion, memory supply shortages could reach 20 percent in 2026, before easing to 19 percent in 2027 and 15 percent in 2028.

For Samsung and SK Hynix, Musk’s comments highlight a potential risk. Both companies benefit from tight supply conditions, but aggressive pricing could strain relationships with major customers looking for predictable costs and reliable access to chips.