A visit to the computer markets at Dhaka’s IDB Bhaban and Multiplan Centre shows many customers are returning empty-handed as soaring prices put computers beyond their reach, while sellers are also struggling to retain buyers.
A DDR4 RAM stick (8GB, 3200MHz) that sold for Tk2,000 to Tk2,500 in July last year now costs around Tk9,000 in the international market at current exchange rates, marking a nearly 300 per cent increase in less than a year. Gaming DDR5 RAM (16GB, 6000MHz) now costs $240, or around Tk29,000, compared with Tk6,500 to Tk7,500 in July last year.
The sharp rise in prices of the critical computer component has pushed the market into extreme volatility.
Rashedul Islam, a salesman at a computer parts shop in IDB Bhaban, said he had never witnessed such a surge in his 15 years in the business.
“Customers leave as soon as they hear the prices. We used to sell around 50 RAM sticks a month; now it is down to 15 to 20,” he said.
Saiful Alam, another vendor at Multiplan Centre, said old stocks of DDR4 RAM had run out with no fresh supply arriving, while DDR5 RAM had become too expensive for middle-income buyers.
Distribution Hub Ltd Product Manager Md Abu Naser Prince said RAM and SSD prices began climbing from July 2025.
At that time, a DDR4 (8GB, 3200MHz) stick was priced below Tk2,500, while gaming DDR5 (16GB, 6000MHz) was available for Tk6,500 to Tk7,500. By the end of the year, RAM prices had risen 40 to 50 per cent.
He said gaming DDR5 (16GB, 6000MHz) was priced at only $50, or around Tk6,000, in the international market at the end of September 2025. By January 2026, the price had jumped to between $195 and $295, or Tk23,000 to Tk36,000.
According to current week data, international RAM prices have reached alarming levels. DDR4 (8GB, 3200MHz) now starts at $75, or around Tk9,000, while gaming DDR5 (16GB, 6000MHz) costs about $240, or Tk29,000. Gaming DDR5 (32GB, 6000MHz) starts at $475, or around Tk57,500.
SSD prices have also climbed sharply. A PCIe Gen3 256GB SSD now costs around $75, or Tk9,000, while a 2TB PCIe Gen3 SSD costs $260, or around Tk31,500. A gaming PCIe Gen4 SSD (4TB) has reached $500, or around Tk60,500.
Star Tech and Engineering Ltd Chairman Md Rashed Ali Bhuiyan said the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) is the main driver behind the surge, as global chipmakers are shifting production towards AI-focused memory.
“AI systems and data centres require enormous quantities of RAM and SSDs. Large companies like Nvidia, Google and AMD are purchasing memory in massive volumes. As a result, production of consumer-grade memory has declined, creating a shortage in the market. This is directly affecting DRAM and SSD prices,” he said.
He added that production costs have also increased as chipmakers focus on higher-end segments alongside the introduction of DDR5 RAM.
Global market data supports the trend. Samsung, SK Hynix and Micron, which together control more than 95 per cent of global DRAM production, have redirected a large share of manufacturing capacity toward High-Bandwidth Memory (HBM) chips used in AI accelerators, tightening supply in the consumer DRAM market.
SK Hynix has already announced its entire 2026 production capacity has been booked in advance, while Micron has shifted focus away from consumer products toward enterprise and AI clients.
The surge in RAM and SSD prices is also driving up laptop and desktop costs. In Bangladesh, assembling a mid-range desktop PC now costs Tk20,000 to Tk30,000 more than before.
Mostak Ahmed, a wholesale dealer at Multiplan Centre, said traders themselves are uncertain about future prices.
“We cannot keep large stocks even if we want to, because we ourselves do not know where prices will be a week from now. The RAM market is fluctuating like the stock market right now,” he said.
Technology experts said the situation is unlikely to improve soon.
Synesis IT Chief Solution Officer Aminul Bari Shuvro said prices may not return to previous levels unless global supply improves significantly.
“The situation may reach its peak by the end of 2026, and a recovery before 2027 is not possible unless global supply increases,” he said.
He warned that the impact extends beyond individual consumers and could also affect government projects.
This has become a major obstacle to the overall automation and digital transformation efforts.
“In our country, projects usually take two to three years from approval to implementation. Within that time, the cost of devices and servers in many cases nearly doubles,” he added.
