The government agency released survey findings that offered no optimism for easing supply chain constraints over the next six months.
The US Department of Commerce (DOC) launched a Request for Information (RFI) in September 2021 to gather data about the ongoing global chip shortage. It just posted its findings, and the news doesn’t look good for anyone hoping to see shortages ease within the next six months. According to the RFI’s findings, the world currently finds itself in the midst of an ongoing chip drought thanks to a «perfect storm» of factors. Among them are an increasing level of demand that already existed as early as 2020; a further spike in demand caused by COVID-19’s influence on increasing sales of electronics and other items; and a «series of black swan events such as factory fires, winter storms, energy shortages, and COVID-19-related shutdowns.» Unfortunately, all of the research indicates that these factors will persist until at least the second half of 2022, when some previously announced investments in the manufacturing space «come online.» The 150 respondents that contributed to the report included «nearly every major semiconductor producer,» and «companies in multiple consuming industries.
