Struggles in Taiwan Economy Signal Trouble for Semiconductor Market

By Logan Wamsley

Taiwan has had a difficult start to 2023 for a myriad of reasons, not least of which is the increasing tensions between the Taiwanese government and mainland China. The woes have stretched beyond the political front, however, as its export-dependent economy continues to struggle. Following a larger-than-expected market contraction in Q1, the country officially plunged…

The Changing Role of the US in Chip Manufacturing

By Logan Wamsley

The U.S. has historically dominated the semiconductor design process. According to the Center for Security and Emerging Technology, 47% of semiconductor design is done in the U.S., along with 52% of intellectual property patents and a whopping 96% of software designs. This, however, has not translated to chip production. For various reasons such as lower…

Black and Gray Markets for Microchips Are Thriving in the Ukraine Crisis

By Logan Wamsley

The Ukraine-Russia conflict has revealed many shortcomings and bottlenecks in the global supply chain, and over one year in it is still revealing new wrinkles that, in some cases, will permanently alter how electronics manufacturers evaluate supply chain risk. One such wrinkle is the revealing of just how sophisticated black and gray markets for microchips…