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This is impossible Buy a PS5, your iPhone is out of stock, no one has seen a graphics card in the wild for months. It seems that no matter what kind of electronic product you are looking for, you can’t find it. What is happening in the world? In short, the global chip shortage is caused by multiple factors such as the ongoing pandemic, geopolitical tensions, and some crypto nonsense as always.
The answer is long…complex.
As usual, Covid is the obvious problem
It’s easy to forget most of the time, but every device you own (including the device you use to read this article) consists of dozens of specially designed microprocessors, which require more specialized factories to manufacture. This is already a complicated process, but when the pandemic hits in early 2020, it put a metaphorical wrench on the literal gear.
The increase in working from home is related to the increase in demand for more equipment. Strikingly, the webcam was out of stock almost immediately, because millions of people moved their meetings to video chat and wanted something that looked better than the built-in webcam of a laptop. Similar pressure to buy new laptops, mobile phones, tablets, headsets and dozens of other devices put pressure on the supply of microprocessors. At the same time, the demand for cars-which also requires dozens of built-in electronic devices-Decline in early 2020.
The factory that makes the microprocessor does not open a dime. Since most chips require highly specific manufacturing processes, it may take weeks or even months to establish a workflow to start meeting the needs of certain parts. A factory that did not mass-produce touch-screen displays for new cars until recently needs time to switch to producing screens for iPads.
In short, even in a normal year, it is difficult to flexibly keep up with the demand for electronic products, and 2020 is the farthest year from normal. The epidemic is not over. Until recently, there were basically no cases of the new crown virus in Taiwan, but according to a Taiwanese representative, the sudden rise in the index may eventually lead to “Logistical issues“If the country cannot get more vaccines.
Taiwan Manufacturing Account Account for more than 60% of global semiconductor revenueIn other words, most of the processors used in electronic products around the world come from Taiwan. As the demand for certain equipment increases, the types of equipment consumers need suddenly change drastically, and the pressure to maintain operations during the pandemic increases, shortages will inevitably occur.
Perhaps more predictably, Semiconductor prices start to rise To meet this demand. Not only is it difficult to obtain enough certain equipment, but it may soon become more expensive.This will only exacerbate Next problem.
International trade relations are even more troublesome
Deconstructing the complex nature of international trade disputes is a bit beyond the scope of an explanatory article, but we can be sure that it is not just a higher demand issue that makes processors more difficult. Establishing most of the semiconductor manufacturing industry in the world on one continent has never been an ideal choice for other countries. In particular, the United States has not always performed well.
At the end of 2020, shortly before leaving office, President Donald Trump Implementation restrictions About Chinese manufacturer SMIC.In at least one case, this caused a car manufacturer to transfer microprocessor manufacturing to Taiwan, and Taiwan only manufactures Taiwanese manufacturers are even more overloadedTo some extent, this move is an extension of the Trump administration’s feud with Huawei, which in turn is an extension of the US feud. The relationship with China’s position in the global economy is more complicated.
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