Micron says DRAM supply drought could last until 2028 after Crucial backlash
Micron has pushed back against criticism over its decision to wind down the Crucial consumer business, arguing it is “still servicing the consumer market” mainly through OEM channels rather than the DIY upgrade aisle. But the company’s messaging comes with an uncomfortable rider for PC builders: Micron executives say the DRAM supply drought is unlikely to ease in a meaningful way before 2028, even with major fab expansions underway.
In an interview published during CES, Micron’s Christopher Moore (VP of Marketing, Mobile and Client Business Unit) said the company is “trying to help consumers around the world” via “different channels”, pointing to ongoing shipments of LPDDR to laptop makers and other client/mobile supply. That may be technically true, but it does not address the practical impact of removing a familiar, enthusiast-facing brand from retail shelves at a time when memory pricing is already tight.
DRAM supply drought meets the DIY market
Micron formally announced on 3 December 2025 that it will exit the Crucial consumer business, including sales of Crucial-branded products through major retailers and e-tailers. The company said it will continue shipping through consumer channels until the end of fiscal Q2 (February 2026) and that warranty service and support will continue after that transition. Crucial has also posted a notice to customers saying shipments continue through February 2026, with support ongoing and some stock expected to remain available via distributors and resellers.
Micron’s core argument is portfolio prioritisation: AI-driven data-centre growth is pulling memory supply toward higher-margin enterprise products, and the company says it needs to support “larger, strategic customers” in faster-growing segments. The practical result, though, is that DIY buyers lose a direct line to Micron-branded SSDs and DRAM modules at exactly the point where shortages and allocation decisions are driving sharp price swings.
Why 2028 matters in the DRAM supply drought
Moore’s comments align with Micron’s broader timeline for new capacity. The company has highlighted Idaho’s ID1 fab coming online in mid-2027, but it has cautioned that “meaningful output” that changes market conditions is more likely in 2028 once tool install, qualification, and customer acceptance are complete. Micron also says it is still catching up with today’s demand, so early output may first be absorbed by existing shortfalls rather than lowering prices for mainstream PC components.
On the longer horizon, Micron is also moving ahead with its New York “megafab” plan. In a 7 January 2026 press release, the company said it will break ground on 16 January 2026 on a $100 billion project in Onondaga County, New York, describing it as a multi-fab site intended to help meet AI-era demand. For context on Micron’s manufacturing ramp history, see our earlier coverage when Micron began shipping 176-layer 3D NAND and when the US lined up incentives to expand domestic DRAM capacity.
For readers trying to plan upgrades, the immediate takeaway is simple: even if more clean-room space is coming, the DRAM supply drought story is now being told in years, not quarters — and the “consumer” market may increasingly mean OEM-first, not enthusiast-first.
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