Memory shortage hands pricing power to Micron cartel

The three companies controlling 90% of global memory supply just discovered what monopoly pricing looks like. Micron's shares jumped 38% last week after executives said demand is "nowhere close" to matching supply, while Samsung reported a 90% price increase in Q1 alone. DRAM contract prices are projected to surge 63% this quarter, the steepest jump in a decade. The math is brutal: AI servers need 8-10 times more memory than traditional servers, but new fabs won't come online until 2028. Apple is already warning about margin pressure, Sony raised PlayStation prices by $150, and smartphone shipments are forecast to drop 31% as manufacturers ration chips for higher-margin AI applications.