SK Group chairman Chey Tae-won warns memory chip shortage could last until 2030

Long shortage, big ripple effects

It has been reported that SK Group (SK集团) chairman Chey Tae‑won said the global memory chip shortage may persist through 2030. The warning, if borne out, would extend a supply squeeze that has already prompted elevated prices, delayed product launches and accelerated strategic moves across the semiconductor industry. Short-term fixes? Few and far between.

Why the pain could last

Chey reportedly tied the extended tightness to a mix of demand and supply-side factors: surging demand for high‑capacity DRAM and NAND driven by AI and data centers, long lead times on new fabs, and a slow recovery in industry utilization after earlier downcycles. SK Hynix (SK海力士), the group’s memory arm, is one of the world’s largest DRAM and NAND makers — so the company’s chairman carries weight when he flags multi‑year constraints. Capital spending helps, but building advanced memory capacity is costly and time consuming. Patience is required.

Geopolitics complicate capacity

Geopolitical dynamics make the outlook more uncertain. Export controls, trade policy and technology restrictions have reshaped where and how fabs can expand. It has been reported that these divides — between the US, allies and China — add friction to equipment supply, talent flows and cross‑border investments. In plain terms: even if customers are willing to pay, geopolitics can slow the machines that make memory.

Market implications

Who wins and who loses? Memory suppliers could see prolonged pricing power. Cloud and AI companies face higher infrastructure costs. Governments and buyers will likely press for diversification and domestic capacity builds. It’s a long lead‑time problem with immediate consequences. Investors and buyers should prepare for volatility — and for a market that may look very different by 2030.