AI Memory Chip Shortage Fuels Global Semiconductor Crisis

At the Evertiq Expo in Kraków 2026, Jacek Małecki, CEO of Best Supply, warned that AI‑driven demand for a narrow range of advanced components is creating a prolonged instability in the electronic components market. He noted that while AI‑related parts represent only 0.2% of product variety, they account for almost half of semiconductor sales, forcing manufacturers to reserve capacity for a few large customers and leaving other buyers with longer lead times.

Separately, SK Group Chairman Chey Tae‑won highlighted that the acute shortage of AI memory chips could evolve into a geopolitical strain, with demand projected to outpace supply through 2027. Governments are treating secure chip access as a national‑security issue, and South Korean firm SK hynix held 58% of high‑bandwidth memory revenue in early 2026. The combined market pressures underscore a global semiconductor crisis with potential economic and security ramifications.