Sony has announced a temporary suspension of sales and order fulfilment for the majority of its SD and CFexpress memory cards, citing a persistent global semiconductor shortage and supply‑chain pressures that have constrained production capacity. The move affects orders from both authorised dealers and individual customers, and it comes amid broader industry challenges in meeting demand for storage products.
The announcement, made on March 27, 2026, through Sony Japan’s official online channels, states that the company anticipates that available supply will not be sufficient to meet demand for a wide range of memory card models in the near future. As a result, Sony has decided to suspend the acceptance of new orders for most of its mainstream memory card products, including CFexpress Types A and B and SDXC/SDHC cards. Only a limited number of specific Type B cards and some lower‑tier SD cards remain available for sale while existing stock lasts.
Sony’s decision highlights the impact of ongoing shortages of semiconductors — the core components used in storage media and many other electronic products. Industry analysts note that the rising demand for memory chips, driven in part by artificial intelligence data centres, high‑performance computing and consumer electronics, has outpaced supply. This has put pressure on manufacturers globally, resulting in reduced availability of flash memory wafers and related components.
The company’s suspension affects its CFexpress range — widely used by professional photographers, videographers and workflow‑intensive applications — as well as the SD card segment that serves a broad spectrum of users from casual photographers to mobile device users. For customers and content creators who rely on readily available storage media for digital cameras, action cameras, drones and other devices, this change could create challenges in sourcing new cards and may lead to upward pressure on prices as supply tightens further.
Sony has indicated that the suspension is temporary and tied to the ongoing supply situation. The company plans to monitor semiconductor availability and production capacity closely, with the intention to resume accepting orders once conditions improve. Exact timing for a resumption of sales has not yet been provided, and Sony’s communication emphasises that updates will be shared through its product information pages when available.
The memory card shortage is not occurring in isolation. Similar supply constraints have been observed across related product categories such as solid‑state drives (SSDs) and DRAM modules, where demand from cloud providers and AI infrastructure projects has increased competition for limited semiconductor resources. Analysts also point to broader geopolitical tensions and logistical bottlenecks that have contributed to production and distribution challenges.
Some industry observers say that customers may need to explore alternative brands or older stock while the situation continues. Other manufacturers of memory cards may still have products available, although they too are likely navigating supply constraints that could affect pricing and availability. For now, the suspension by Sony underscores how global supply chain dynamics continue to influence product availability in key technology segments.
Overall, Sony’s temporary pause on memory card sales reflects broader pressures facing the technology industry as it adapts to evolving demand patterns and constrained component supply. Customers and businesses dependent on high‑performance storage media will need to stay informed about developments and plan purchases accordingly as the situation unfolds.