Sony has temporarily stopped accepting new orders for its CFexpress and SD memory cards, as a deepening shortage of NAND flash disrupts supply.
The company is currently unable to fulfill demand for CFexpress Type A, CFexpress Type B, and SDXC/SDHC memory cards. The disruption stems from limited availability of NAND flash memory, a critical component used in these products.
These memory cards rely on TLC 3D NAND—the same technology widely used in enterprise SSDs. With AI infrastructure rapidly expanding, demand for high-performance storage has surged. AI workloads, including training and inference, require fast data access for GPU servers, making enterprise SSDs essential, while traditional hard drives fall short.
As a result, NAND manufacturers are prioritizing the more profitable enterprise segment over consumer markets, leading to constrained supply for devices like memory cards.
Sony’s move reflects a broader industry trend. In 12, Micron exited its Crucial consumer brand, which supplied SSDs and RAM, to focus entirely on enterprise IT. The shift highlighted growing pressure on consumer-facing memory products.
Industry leaders have also raised concerns about the impact of the shortage. The CEO of flash controller manufacturer Phison previously warned that limited NAND supply could halt operations for smaller consumer electronics companies by 2026. Other memory card manufacturers are expected to face similar challenges.
Sony has not provided a timeline for when it will resume orders. A recovery is dependent on increased NAND production capacity, which is not expected to stabilize supply for consumer markets until late 2027 or 2028.
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