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Summer is coming to an end, and with it the illusion of a components market that had settled back down. If you thought the shortages of 2022 were behind you, September 2026 is about to be a rude awakening: the crisis hasn’t disappeared, it’s just changed shape. Gone is the broad chaos where everything was scarce at once. In its place is a surgical shortage, targeting a handful of very specific component families, but just as painful for those who depend on them.
What’s happening behind the scenes
The topic that has dominated every conversation for months is the Nexperia crisis. In late September 2025, the Dutch manufacturer was hit with US restrictions, before the Dutch government took control of the company itself. What followed was a standoff between Nexperia’s Dutch and Chinese leadership, with very tangible consequences on the ground: several automakers faced semiconductor shortages, with Honda alone estimating an impact of 110,000 vehicles on its North American production. A trade truce restored part of the flow late in 2025, but requalifying alternative suppliers for automotive-grade parts continues to delay a full return to normal well into 2026.
At the same time, another front has opened up: memory. Explosive demand for HBM chips destined for AI data centers has effectively soaked up available production capacity, at the expense of the conventional DRAM used in PCs and consumer electronics. The result: dramatic price increases, with DRAM contract prices climbing sharply over the first two quarters of 2026. Some major memory makers are even reporting they’re sold out through the end of the year.
Add to that an automotive electrification trend that shows no sign of slowing, with each electric vehicle requiring 3 to 5 times more semiconductors than a combustion vehicle, particularly SiC MOSFETs and high-reliability MCUs, and you get a market under permanent strain on power components.
3 major problems to plan for
1. Lead times climbing again on targeted families
It’s no longer the whole catalog that’s struggling; specific part numbers are becoming unobtainable or shifting into strict allocation. Lead times for automotive MCUs now exceed 30 weeks for certain families, while standard connectors and passives are barely moving. The real trap is assuming that because the market “looks better” overall, your specific part number is safe. That’s no longer the case.
2. A price surge that’s throwing forecasted budgets off track
Between memory prices that have doubled to tripled on the spot market, and automotive-grade components hit by the Nexperia crisis, buyers now have to factor in volatility not seen since 2021. It’s hard to lock in an annual budget when a single BOM line can triple in price within six months.
3. A geopolitical dependency that’s become structural
The lesson from the Nexperia crisis goes well beyond a single manufacturer. It exposed the fragility of just-in-time supply chains and the lack of diversification among many players in the face of geopolitical shocks. Ongoing trade tensions between the US and China are also weighing directly on orders, forcing buyers to rethink their supplier mix and build cost buffers into every quarterly forecast.
What this means for you
If you buy or integrate electronic components, September 2026 is the right time to review your safety stock, diversify your sourcing, and, above all, not wait for a shortage to hit your specific part number before reacting. Qualifying an alternative supplier or substitute component takes time, often several months, so planning ahead beats scrambling to catch up.
At ARTRONIK COMPONENTS, we’re tracking these developments closely to secure our sourcing and guarantee our customers reliable availability across our ranges. Feel free to reach out to us to discuss your needs as we head into this eventful comeback season.
Sources:
https://www.z2data.com/insights/the-nexperia-chip-crisis-explained/ https://www.automotivelogistics.media/supply-chain/carmakers-take-matters-into-their-own-hands-to-address-nexperia-semiconductor-shortage-as-internal-dispute-continues/2589192 https://www.nextpcb.com/blog/shortage-of-electronic-components-2026 https://pcbaassembly.com/blogs/news/2026-electronic-component-shortages-outlook-trends-risks-mitigation-strategies https://www.ic-online.com/blog/post/2026-electronic-component-shortage-update-for-buyers-how-to-secure-your-supply-chain https://www.cbtnews.com/global-auto-production-rattled-as-nexperia-chip-shortage-exposes-supply-chain-vulnerabilities/
Photo credits: https://pixabay.com/users/joa70-16807463/ https://pixabay.com/users/deeznutz1-3086161/
