- Updated: March 27, 2026
- 3 min read
Sony Halts SD and CFexpress Card Sales Amid Global Memory Shortage
**Summary – Sony Suspends Orders for Most SD and CFexpress Memory Cards**
**Key Facts**
– **What happened:** As of 27 March 2026, Sony Japan stopped accepting new orders for virtually all of its SD (SDXC/SDHC) and CFexpress (Type A and Type B) memory cards. The suspension applies to both authorized dealers and direct consumer purchases through Sony’s online store.
– **Products affected:** Nearly every model in Sony’s CFexpress and SD lines, with only a few low‑end “SF‑UZ” SD cards and a limited selection of Type B CFexpress cards still in production. Existing inventory may remain on shelves until it runs out.
– **Reason given:** Ongoing global shortages of solid‑state memory, compounded by “other factors” such as a helium shortage linked to the Iran‑related conflict that is also impacting chip manufacturers.
– **Duration:** Described as a **temporary** measure for the “foreseeable future.” Sony says it will monitor supply conditions and announce a resumption when feasible.
– **Related news:** The announcement coincided with Sony’s decision to raise PlayStation 5 prices worldwide by about $100, underscoring broader supply‑chain pressures.
**Context**
– **Global memory crunch:** The semiconductor industry has been strained by pandemic‑era demand spikes, geopolitical tensions, and raw‑material constraints (e.g., helium, a key cooling agent for some memory‑chip production). These factors have driven up prices and limited output for NAND flash, the core technology in SD and CFexpress cards.
– **Impact on users:** Photographers, videographers, and other professionals who rely on high‑speed CFexpress or high‑capacity SD cards may face longer lead times, higher prices on the secondary market, or need to seek alternative brands.
– **Sony’s positioning:** By publicly suspending orders rather than quietly limiting production, Sony signals transparency about supply issues while also managing expectations for dealers and consumers.
**Nuances & Implications**
– **Partial availability:** Although most SKUs are halted, a few lower‑end SD cards and some Type B CFexpress cards remain in limited production, suggesting Sony is prioritizing products with lower performance or price points that may be easier to source.
– **Supply‑chain interdependence:** The mention of a helium shortage highlights how seemingly unrelated commodities can ripple through high‑tech manufacturing, affecting even consumer‑grade accessories.
– **Strategic timing:** Aligning the suspension with a PS5 price increase may be a tactical move to pre‑empt criticism about rising costs by framing both actions as consequences of the same macro‑economic pressures.
– **Future outlook:** Sony’s statement that order acceptance will be reconsidered “while monitoring the supply situation” leaves open the possibility of a phased restart, perhaps beginning with the few models still in production or with newly secured component supplies.
**Bottom Line**
Sony has temporarily halted orders for almost all of its SD and CFexpress memory cards due to a worldwide shortage of solid‑state memory and related supply‑chain disruptions (including a helium shortage). The pause is indefinite but not permanent, and it reflects broader industry challenges that are also driving up prices for other Sony products, such as the PlayStation 5. Users dependent on these cards should anticipate limited availability and potentially higher costs until the supply situation improves.