Early data suggests that the global electronic supply chain grew during Q1 2018 when compared to Q1 2017, with pre-emptive reports predicting an overall increase in the region of 7%.

A booming manufacturing economy is helping to boost purchases of materials, leaving the Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation (MAPI) to predict that the United States will regain all output that fell away during the 2008 recession by next year.

Global semiconductor markets have tightened in recent months, leading to continued speculation that allocation could bite as we head towards the second half of 2018.

Many component manufacturers are suffering from capacity constraints which, coupled with high demand from high-growth sectors, has seen many lead times increase.

The semiconductor industry has recently shown signs of stability.

As we head towards the end of Q12018, many lead times for popular product groups have remained static, providing buyers with confidence when planning long-term purchasing strategies.

It’s a new year and it’s a new us (we’ve got a brand-new website, you can read more on that here) but for purchasers of electronic components, the landscape looks remarkably similar.