Every week, Rinchem shares important articles and topics about chemical and gas logistics. They also cover other factors that affect the global supply chain.
Taiwan's semiconductor talent shortage reaches 34,000 in May
Taiwan’s semiconductor industry was grappling with a significant labor shortfall of approximately 34,000 workers as of May 2025, according to a report from 104 Job Bank and the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI). This shortage spans key areas such as production and quality control, R&D, and operations/technical support—where job openings have surged notably since late 2023 (for instance, quality-control roles rose from 5,600 to around 10,000 openings). As Taiwan remains dominant in the global semiconductor ecosystem—controlling nearly 69% of the foundry market in 2024 and producing over 80% of AI chips—this talent gap arises amid rapid industry expansion and a declining birth rate. Among non-managerial roles, analog IC design engineers earned the highest median annual salary at roughly NT$1.78 million (≈ US$60,320), followed by digital IC designers at NT$1.57 million.
Semiconductor supply chain faces change: growth and risks
The Sourceability article outlines how the global semiconductor supply chain is under mounting pressure from the twin forces of rapid demand growth—especially for AI hardware—and heightened geopolitical and trade volatility. Key stressors include tightened Chinese export controls on critical semiconductor materials like gallium, US tariffs on copper entering chip manufacturing, and regulatory unpredictability affecting access to essential design tools and raw inputs. These dynamics underscore the urgent need for firms to adopt agile procurement strategies, diversify suppliers, and deploy real‑time supply visibility tools to navigate the escalating risks and ensure uninterrupted production.
How to Understand, Anticipate and Navigate the Cost of Tariffs on Your Business
The SupplyChainBrain article “How to Understand, Anticipate and Navigate the Cost of Tariffs on Your Business” (published July 30, 2025) emphasizes that managing tariff impacts goes far beyond simple cost pass‑through decisions. It argues businesses must deeply analyze landed costs, alternative sourcing, transport options, and inventory dynamics, while balancing trade‑offs like cost, service and flexibility. The authors advocate for proactive supply chain design—leveraging scenario planning, multi‑sourcing (e.g. nearshoring/reshoring), network optimization, and transparent supplier collaboration—to build resilience rather than react to disruptions in crisis-mode.
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