Critical Minerals Are Becoming a Semiconductor Supply Chain Risk

By Michael Stratton

Critical minerals are moving from the background of the semiconductor conversation to the center of supply chain strategy. On June 18, Reuters reported that China defended its export controls on critical minerals after the G7 pledged to reduce reliance on Chinese supplies and increase coordinated stockpiling. The G7 plan includes efforts to reduce dependence on…

Why Equipment Spending Is the New Signal to Watch in Semiconductors

By Michael Stratton

For years, semiconductor buyers have watched lead times, pricing, and inventory levels to understand where the market is headed. Those indicators still matter, but they no longer tell the full story. In today’s semiconductor market, one of the most important signals may be happening further upstream: wafer fab equipment spending. Recent reporting shows that major…

Domestic DRAM Production Is Becoming a Supply Chain Priority

By Michael Stratton

Micron recently began producing advanced DRAM at its Manassas, Virginia facility, marking an important development for U.S. semiconductor manufacturing. The expansion is expected to support industries such as automotive, defense, industrial equipment, and medical technology, all of which rely on stable access to memory components. While much of the industry conversation focuses on advanced AI…

Why Automotive Memory Is Becoming a Long Lifecycle Risk

By Michael Stratton

Automotive memory is becoming a larger supply chain concern than many OEMs expected. Recent reporting from S&P Global Mobility found that automotive LPDDR4 prices were already up about 70% year over year by January 2026, with additional increases signaled for 2026 and 2027 as older generation memory supply tightens. The issue is not simply that…

Why High Bandwidth Memory Is Reshaping the Entire Semiconductor Market

By Michael Stratton

High bandwidth memory, commonly known as HBM, has quickly become one of the most important technologies in the semiconductor industry. Originally designed for high performance computing applications, HBM is now at the center of the artificial intelligence boom. As demand for AI infrastructure accelerates, HBM production is expanding rapidly and consuming a growing share of…

What “Tight Supply” Actually Means in Today’s Semiconductor Market

By Michael Stratton

The semiconductor market is growing rapidly in 2026. Revenue forecasts have been revised upward, driven largely by strong demand for memory and artificial intelligence infrastructure. At first glance, this suggests a healthy and expanding industry. At the same time, the market is consistently described as “tight.” This creates confusion. If supply is increasing and companies…