TrendForce: AI storage demand stimulates HDD substitution effect, NAND Flash suppliers accelerate transition to high-capacity Nearline SSDs

According to a survey by TrendForce, AI inference applications have driven the demand for real-time access and high-speed processing of vast amounts of data, prompting HDD and SSD suppliers to expand the supply of large-capacity storage products. Due to a supply gap in the HDD market, NAND Flash manufacturers are accelerating their transformation, investing in the production of ultra-large capacity Nearline SSDs of 122TB and 245TB. The HDD industry is undergoing a technological upgrade, with rising costs weakening its core competitiveness, while NAND Flash is enhancing capacity through 3D stacking technology, which is expected to reduce Nearline SSD costs by 2026