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| "It’s hard to believe that basic things like capacitors are in such short supply" |
| Monday, 02 August 2010 10:50 |
  It's hard to imagine that in a very weak world economy there's real demand that blows out the whole system. But shortages are widespread. A manager of a very large network emailed "Our biggest problem at the moment is getting equipment from our key vendors. It’s hard to believe that basic things like capacitors are in such short supply." Shortages often comes from self-fulfilling prophecy. When you fear a shortage, you naturally stock up to protect yourself. U.S. TV host Johnny Carson once made a joke about a toilet paper shortage on the East Coast and by the following afternoon there was one. Shoppers had bought up everything in the stores.
Lots of datapoints suggest the shortage clears rapidly but currently TSMC, the world's largest foundry, is running 100%.
TSMC's Chairman Morris Chang speculates "I think there may be [an upcoming demand slowdown." Reuters reports Samsung is predict drops in memory chip prices. NAND Flash prices have already dropped according to Digitimes and DRAMeXchange. "We are seeing some double bookings" according to John Chiu of Fuh Hwa Securities, via Reuters.
None of which helps a network that can't get what it needs this month. |
| Last Updated on Monday, 02 August 2010 12:28 |