Disruptions spurred by the Japan earthquake and tsunami caused shipments of crystals to be delayed by four weeks in April. The average lead time for megahertz and kilohertz crystals rose to 12 weeks in April, up 50 percent from eight weeks in March. Unusually long lead times can lead to delivery delays and short supplies of electronic products. Delivery delays, in turn, are associated with price increases. Crystals produce an electronic signal at a very precise frequency. The frequency is used in oscillators to track time, manage radios, or serve as a clock that controls the function of semiconductors. Playing a key role in products ranging from wristwatches to notebook PCs and mobile phones, crystals are produced in massive volumes, with more than 2 billion units estimated to ship every year.Learn more from iSuppli.
Japan Disaster Hinders Supply of Crystals Commonly Used in Cell Phones and PCs
