Supply Situation Worsens
Delivery times for components and printed circuit boards are reaching critical levels
The situation in the international electronics markets has worsened significantly in recent months. While numerous semiconductors and memory chips have been in short supply since the beginning of the year, supply chains for printed circuit boards are now also coming under increasing pressure.
Printed Circuit Boards: Material Shortages Lead to Drastic Delays
Recent reports from the printed circuit board industry point to a trend that reminds many companies of the supply bottlenecks experienced in 2021 and 2022. Various global printed circuit board manufacturers are currently reporting lead times of 14–16 weeks just for the required base materials. In many cases, deliveries are now made only on an allocation basis, meaning that PCB manufacturers cannot estimate in advance what quantities of material will actually be available.
Added to this are the actual production times for the PCBs, which currently average 6–8 weeks. This results in total lead times of up to 20–24 weeks, not including any additional potential delays.
For many projects, this means a significant reduction in planning reliability.
Memory Chips Remain in Short Supply
The situation in the memory market remains particularly tight. Demand for DRAM, DDR5, and HBM memory is increasingly driven by AI data centers and cloud providers. Various memory chip manufacturers are already operating at or beyond capacity and are either no longer accepting orders through 2028 or discontinuing their standard product lines on short notice. Manufacturing capacity for traditional industrial and embedded applications is becoming increasingly scarce, as major technology companies are securing production capacity for the long term and, in some cases, even financing the expansion of new production lines.
Microcontrollers and Power Electronics Under Pressure
The supply situation is also worsening for numerous semiconductor families. STM32 microcontrollers are currently particularly affected, with lead times for many automotive and high-performance variants now exceeding 52 weeks. At the same time, further price increases by major manufacturers such as Texas Instruments and NXP are placing additional strain on procurement.
Added to this are shortages of power semiconductors, automotive components, and discrete devices. Many distributor warehouses are being cleared out by large-volume pre-orders from international corporations, further worsening availability for small and medium-sized enterprises.
Furthermore, the “Nexperia situation” has yet to stabilize.
Existing inventories of potential alternative components or manufacturers are already largely sold out. Currently, the lead time for commodities (e.g., diodes and transistors) is 40–54 weeks.
New Risks Arising from Geopolitical Developments
The tense geopolitical situation is creating additional uncertainty. One example is the supply of helium, an essential process gas for semiconductor manufacturing. Market observers warn that ongoing supply chain disruptions could have further repercussions for global chip production starting in the second half of 2026.
Early Planning Is Key to Success
Current developments clearly show that the challenges are no longer limited to individual components or manufacturers. Rather, the tight supply situation now affects the entire value chain—from semiconductors and memory chips to printed circuit boards and manufacturing materials.
Companies should therefore plan their needs early, secure critical components in a timely manner, and consider alternatives as early as the development phase. Those who wait until production begins to procure components currently run the risk of delaying projects by several months.
It makes sense to plan for demand with at least a 12-month lead time.
Often asked questions about the current procurement situation
The current shortages are no longer limited to individual semiconductors. In addition to microcontrollers, memory chips, and power semiconductors, even basic materials for printed circuit boards are now subject to significantly longer lead times. This is lengthening the entire supply chain, from material procurement to the finished assembly.
While many components used to be available on short notice, significantly longer lead times must now be taken into account. Currently, sourcing printed circuit board materials alone can take up to 14–16 weeks. Combined with manufacturing times, this results in lead times of up to 20–24 weeks. As a result, launching projects on short notice is becoming increasingly difficult.
Manufacturers are increasingly allocating available capacity based on long-term demand forecasts. Companies that communicate their future needs early on often enjoy greater planning certainty. At the same time, strategic safety stocks help cushion the impact of short-term market disruptions and supply bottlenecks.
