Chinese chipmakers raise prices as memory shortage hits

Chinese AI chipmakers including Huawei and Cambricon have sharply raised prices for current and next-generation AI processors, reports Reuters citing inside sources. This comes as soaring costs for high-bandwidth memory squeeze efforts to build domestic alternatives to Nvidia.

Huawei has lifted the indicated price of its Ascend 950DT accelerator card, which integrates an AI processor with memory and other components, to above RMB 250,000 ($37,255), two people said. The increase represents a jump of 20% to 50% from prices quoted to customers just two months ​ago, depending on contract terms, they said. 

Beijing-based Cambricon has also repriced its next-generation chip, tentatively called the 690, at 20% to 30% ⁠above levels it indicated two months ago, two sources said, without giving an exact figure. Smaller rivals MetaX and Iluvatar CoreX have made similar increases, the ​sources said.