ITAD Market Pulse

2H23: Some Signs to Support ITAD Executives’ Optimism for a Better Outlook

Jul 12, 2023

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  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by David Daoud of Compliance Standards (@lunch_with_david) We have just entered the third quarter of 2023 and many industry executives question whether the second half of the year could bring a better market environment following a dismal first half. Although forecasting what’s to come is […] Continue reading below.

We have just entered the third quarter of 2023 and many industry executives question whether the second half of the year could bring a better market environment following a dismal first half. Although forecasting what’s to come is no trivial exercise, we are seeing optimism among industry executives and among those who report the data that suggest the potential for a better period ahead. However, we still must remain cautious as there are plenty of headwinds.  Please click on the link below to access this ITAD Market Pulse analysis by Compliance Standards.

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Analyst/Author: Emilie Wiseman

How Rising Fuel and Memory Prices Are Impacting ITAD’s Margins

Rising fuel and freight costs from the war in Iran are tightening margins in an ITAD business model built on moving material, while surging prices for memory and storage are simultaneously increasing the value of server and component recovery. Those pressure points, combined, are pushing logistics‑heavy, “haul and shred” providers to the edge and giving a relative advantage to ITAD firms that can monetize memory‑rich assets, document ESG benefits, and explain, in hard numbers, how they help customers manage cost, risk, and refresh timing.

Client Note: Foundries Hike DRAM Prices as Automated Bots Sweep DDR5 Inventory

In this memo to clients, we note that the global memory market is showing an accelerated phase of tightening, driven by the aggressive expansion of AI infrastructure as the primary catalyst. Right now, we are tracking two distinct yet deeply connected market developments: massive contract price hikes from major memory foundries, exceeding 100% in recent negotiations, and a surge in automated, large-scale hoarding of DDR5 inventory, which could significantly affect how components are tracked and resold. Collectively, these indicators point to a period of intensified supply chain distortion and heightened competition for memory components.

For the secondary hardware ecosystem, encompassing IT Asset Disposition (ITAD) operators, refurbishers, and component traders, this primary market squeeze could alter current business dynamics.

ITAD Industry Briefing: February Edition

Out of everything we published this month, at least four forces stand out as they’ve taken new momentum. These are the things that will define the next 12 to 18 months for this industry. First, the e-waste export opportunity is closing very quickly. Second, AI spending is splitting your portfolio in two. Third, compliance now beats price. And fourth, EU regulations are becoming the global standard. These four forces are the foundation of key developments we are seeing in the sector, as articulated in this presentation.

HP Inc. earnings point to memory inflation challenge

HP Inc. has just reported its first fiscal quarter of 2026, showing an 11% year-over-year jump in Personal Systems revenue to 10.3 billion dollars and a 12% growth in PC units shipped . But the real story is that memory inflation is now reshaping the economics of hardware, with HP warning that surging DRAM and NAND costs, along with U.S. trade regulations, are pressuring margins and weighing on its full-year outlook.

Technology: How AI’s Breakneck Pace Is Outrunning Enterprise Strategy and Your IT Refresh Cycle

It took 12 days for Anthropic to release two major AI models back to back. And with each release, the capability bar moves up, software value gets questioned, and the hardware underneath it all turns over faster than your refresh cycle was ever designed to handle.  This episode is a straight-talk breakdown of what that pace means for enterprise IT strategy, ITAM programs, and ITAD operations. This is not AI hype, but an honest analysis on the very real decisions landing on your desk right now as a result of it.

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