Leadtimes are mixed

Staff -- Purchasing, 12/8/2005

Slightly more than half of the electronic component leadtimes tracked monthly by PURCHASING shrunk in November indicating weakening demand.

Leadtimes for most passive components, connectors and electromechanical devices fell back in November after stretching in October. Meanwhile, leadtimes for many semiconductors that shrunk in October, stretched in November.

Some leadtime swings were dramatic. Delivery times for 16 megabit (Mb) DRAMs went out from four weeks in October to 7.9 weeks in November; 258 Kb SRAM leadtimes stretched from 3.9 weeks to 6.9 weeks.

Buyers can expect some leadtime volatility for another month. Most leadtimes should shrink in January and then stabilize as demand weakens.