📊Executive Summary

The semiconductor industry is facing a prolonged chip shortage exacerbated by a critical shortfall in Ajinomoto build-up film (ABF) substrate, essential for manufacturing integrated circuits. This shortage has persisted since 2021 and is expected to worsen, with analysts predicting a 33% shortfall in 2022 and a demand increase of 18-19% annually through 2024. Major chipmakers like AMD, Intel, and Nvidia have reported stock issues due to this material scarcity, with lead times for components extending significantly. While some manufacturers are planning capacity expansions, immediate relief is not anticipated, indicating ongoing challenges for procurement teams in managing supply and pricing....