Saturday, August 11, 2012

Some Key Chips In “Critically” Short Supply, iSuppli Contends

A variety of key electronic components are now in “a state of critically short supply,” resulting in higher priced and delayed deliveries to customers, according to the market research firm iSuppli.

In particular, the research firm says availability remains “extremely tight” for widely used analog and memory integrated circuits. The situation is “even more critical,” iSuppli contends, for standard logic ICs and power management discrete components like low-voltage MOSFETs and tantalum capacitors, “which now are experiencing shortages and effectively are on allocation status, meaning suppliers are unable to respond to un-forecasted demand.”

Lead times have reached 20 weeks for power MOSFETs and small signal transistors, and 18 weeks for bipolar power devices and rectifiers, up from a more typical 10-12 weeks.

“When lead times enter the 20 week range, they indicate a major schism between component supply and demand, iSuppli analyst Rick Pierson said in a statement. “Supply constraints for electronics and semiconductor components might not come as a big surprise amid the present market rebound. However, specific market and pricing trends are spurring varying degrees of short supply depending on the component market.”

According to iSuppli, the imbalance in analog ICs is likely to continue through year end,� with lead times likely to continue to stretch out, and ASPs likely to keep rising.

The research firm also says the situation is “slightly calmer” in the memory sector, but adds that “troubling signs point to possible severe shortages in NAND flash during the third quarter.”

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