Our aim is to offer guidance on the ever-changing decision-making processes in the electronics sector and become the "go-to" guide for industry professionals looking to source top components.
Volatility has become the new norm for the electronic components industry, and it looks to stay that way for some time. After a relatively calm year in 2024, 2025 saw the market shift unexpectedly multiple times, including the US-China tariff war affecting the global landscape, the surprise end-of-life announcements for DDR4, and the Nexperia trade
Counterfeit components are the silent saboteurs of the manufacturing world. When supply chains are stretched and the pressure to keep production lines moving rises, procurement teams are often forced to rely on brokers and spot buys where a part’s origins are not always guaranteed. The real danger is that these fakes look identical to the
There’s a very quick answer to what to do about excess inventory: plan better to avoid amassing it. Excess inventory often ends up on the grey market. There are plenty of brokers who are willing to buy it for a knock down price – the going rate is maybe 10% of the face value –
By Justin Sears, Head of Product Marketing for SaaS, Altium Black and grey markets pose increasing challenges to supply chain integrity for hardware developers. From counterfeit components infiltrating production lines to unauthorised distribution channels bypassing traceability measures, illicit component markets pose the risk of financial loss, operational disruption, and reputational damage. As supply chains and
By Liam Kilmister, Component Sense This article originally appeared in the Jan/Feb issue of Procurement Pro. Electronic waste (e-waste) often contains hazardous materials like lead, mercury, and brominated flame retardants (BFRs). These materials seep into the soil and environment when dumped in landfills. When burned (via smelting, for example), these chemicals can pollute the air.
Author: Liam Kilmister, Component Sense The electronics grey market often faces criticism due to fly-by-night sellers and the presence of counterfeit components. While some untrustworthy vendors do exist, this should not put procurement professionals off. The secondary market could be the key to reducing the electronics sector’s environmental footprint. There is an increasing regulatory and
Author: Ken Greenwood, Product and Technology Manager, Rochester Electronics In this article, we delve into the intricate world of semiconductor components and the pervasive issue of counterfeit parts. Ken Greenwood, Product and Technology Manager, Rochester Electronics, sheds light on the risks, detection methods, and potential solutions in the ongoing battle against the proliferation of fraudulent
Author: Victor Meijers, Sr Vice President, ECIA As electronic functionality and internet connectivity reaches every aspect of human activity, the consequences of counterfeit and unauthorised components in the electronics manufacturing supply chain have become much more serious. Whether it’s a 20-year-old fan sold as new, a relabeled wire harness or a used chip pried off
According to the European Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the risk of counterfeit goods in the United States or in the EU is roughly one in twenty. The U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) is said to uncover a mere 1% of counterfeit products brought into the country. When counterfeit goods are added