SSD price increases might be with us for the long haul, as Phison’s CEO says NAND supply won’t catch up with demand for four years
Phison CEO Pua Khein-Seng has warned that solid-state drive (SSD) and NAND flash prices are unlikely to drop significantly in the near future. According to a Commercial Times report, the executive stated that it will take approximately four years for new production capacity to catch up with current demand levels—suggesting the supply crisis could persist through 2030.
The ongoing shortage of NAND flash memory continues to drive up SSD prices for consumers and businesses alike. Khein-Seng attributed the supply pressure partly to surging demand from AI infrastructure customers, which is expected to intensify from late 2026 onwards. This demand from the AI sector is competing with traditional computing, gaming, and consumer storage needs for limited NAND production capacity.
The warning suggests that consumers hoping for relief from elevated SSD prices may need to adjust their expectations. With production capacity constrained and demand growing—particularly from high-margin AI applications—component manufacturers may have limited incentive to prioritize price reductions. This outlook presents a significant headwind for PC gamers and consumers building or upgrading systems, as SSD capacity and performance remain critical for modern gaming experiences.
The comments from Phison, a major NAND controller and memory manufacturer, provide insight into structural challenges in the semiconductor supply chain that extend well beyond current inventory fluctuations.