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In the past, when Apple started to order NAND flash it would spur demand across the whole market, but this has not been the case this year.

The report notes that NAND flash makers are "reluctant to drop quotes in late May informing downstream customers that supply is still limited. Downstream makers have responded that market demand is much weaker than the supply volume".

However, says digitimes, some makers pointed out that "May is a traditionally slow period. Current pricing is at the level it is because NAND flash prices in April saw an increase which has given makers the impression that the market will grow all the way to the third quarter, despite the weak consumer demand at present".