The increased demand and supply chain constraints caused by the pandemic are causing a global chip shortage that is affecting virtually every industry that needs semiconductors. Industry analysts suggest the auto industry has been hit the hardest and the problem will worsen in the consumer electronics market as well. This means that Apple’s iPhone 12 production could suffer as well.
Earlier this month, a Microsoft representative said chip shortages will continue through the first half of 2021, while AMD CEO Lisa Su warns that will be the norm throughout 2021. And despite Apple’s dominant position in the market and the ability to take an exclusive order for supplies from its subcontractors, analysts believe the smartphone industry as a whole will also be affected but cannot quantify the extensions for the moment. The auto industry has reportedly suffered about $ 61 billion in missed sales.
Unfortunately, there is also no silver bullet to this either. The semiconductor industry is currently at maximum capacity, so the only way to accommodate more of them is to build more production plants.
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