Memory shortages are expected to continue into 2027, according to the International Data Corporation (IDC), which has further revised its forecast for the global PC market in 2026.
The organization now anticipates a decline in shipments of 11.6 percent for that year, an increase from the previous forecast that projected a decline of up to 8.9 percent for the current year due to ongoing memory shortages. IDC established the new forecast before the escalation of conflicts in Iran and across the Middle East, which could further impact computing and other industries.
The organization had already cautioned that a memory shortage crisis was imminent at the end of 2025. Jitesh Ubrani, research manager for IDC’s Worldwide Mobile Device Trackers, stated that memory shortages will persist well into 2027. Ubrani anticipates some easing of memory prices beginning in 2028; however, he noted that the market is unlikely to return to the pricing levels seen in 2025.
Surging memory costs have already impacted companies such as HP, Samsung, Valve, and Framework this year, with these price changes reflecting official statements from across the computing sector. Other major players may follow suit with similar price adjustments.
IDC is a global provider of market intelligence and advisory services for information technology, releasing regular forecasts on hardware shipments and sector trends. The latest report signals continued volatility for the computing supply chain through the end of the decade.
