The global pandemic has affected various industries, causing a shortage of products and an increase in prices. One of the sectors that have been hit hard is the technology industry, specifically the graphics card market. In January of this year, we made an announcement on our platform that the prices of graphics cards would experience a surge in the upcoming months. Unfortunately, this prediction has become a reality, with the prices skyrocketing in just two months.
At the time of the announcement, importers in Pakistan had already experienced an increase of approximately 10%-12% in the cost of graphics cards. This was just the beginning, as it appears that the prices have escalated further by an additional 7% in March. Therefore, in the past two months, the total increase in graphics card prices has been almost 20%. This surge in prices is alarming for gamers and professionals who require high-end graphics cards for their work.
Aside from the increase in prices, several distributors have ceased importing graphics cards into Pakistan. Previously, they would bring in 100 graphics cards, but now they only import 30 to 40. This decrease in supply is causing a further increase in prices as demand continues to rise. The shortage of graphics cards is a global issue and not just limited to Pakistan. This shortage is caused by the pandemic and the increase in demand due to the rise of remote work and online gaming.
To illustrate the impact of this surge in prices, we have compared the prices of PALIT Graphics Cards over the span of two months in retail. In February, the price of a PALIT RTX 4080 GR was PKR 400,000. In March, it reached PKR 430,000. This is an increase of almost 7% in just two months. The PALIT RTX 2060 Dual 12 GB also saw an increase in price from PKR 91,000 in February to PKR 100,000 in March, an increase of almost 9%.
The increase in graphics card prices is causing a ripple effect in the industry, with many gamers and professionals unable to afford the latest graphics cards. This surge in prices is also causing a shift in the market, with some users opting for alternative solutions such as refurbished or older graphics cards. The pandemic has caused a global supply chain disruption, and the graphics card market is not an exception. It is unclear when the prices will stabilize or when the supply chain will return to normal.
In conclusion, the surge in graphics card prices is alarming for gamers and professionals who require high-end graphics cards for their work. The shortage of graphics cards is a global issue caused by the pandemic and the increase in demand due to the rise of remote work and online gaming. This surge in prices is causing a ripple effect in the industry, with many users unable to afford the latest graphics cards. It is unclear when the prices will stabilize or when the supply chain will return to normal, but it is important for users to be aware of the situation and make informed decisions.
