NDRC on alert over surge in chip prices

Industry insider says Samsung approached by top regulator, but no action taken yet

The nation's top economic regulator is paying close attention to the factors surrounding a surge in the price of mobile phone storage chips, with the activities of some major chipmakers such as Samsung causing the government particular concern, according to people familiar with the matter.

"We have noticed the price surge and will pay more attention to future problems that may be caused by 'price fixing' in the sector," Xu Xinyu, an official with the Pricing Supervision Department of the National Development and Reform Commission, said without further elaborating.