Source: Economic Daily

       The demand for semiconductors is hot, and the red market has open in the first month of 2021. The International Semiconductor Industry Association (SEMI) announced on the 23rd a report on the shipments of North American semiconductor equipment manufacturers in January. The shipment amount reached a record high of US$3.04 billion, a 13.4% monthly increase and a 29.9% annual increase.

       Analysts predict that the global chip shortage will continue until next year, and semiconductor stocks, which have surged to an all-time high, are expected to rise again, even though the oversupply following the chip shortage in 2018 is not far away.

       Cao Shilun, global marketing director and president of Taiwan region of SEMI, said that the shipment amount of semiconductor equipment in North America hit a new high in January, which is a good start of this year. Digital transformation accelerates the strong and lasting demand for semiconductor equipment.

       According to MarketWatch, the chip industry is facing a "perfect storm" of demand and supply, which is unlikely to be solved soon, said Lopez, chief analyst of research firm Lopez. Susquehanna financial analyst Roland recently predicted that the shortage of chips will only worsen by next spring.

       Fitch, the credit rating agency, said the shortage of chips had increased the bargaining power of the semiconductor industry.