Title: 6 Causes of the Global Semiconductor Shortage | The Motley Fool
Headings: 6 Causes of the Global Semiconductor Shortage
6 Causes of the Global Semiconductor Shortage
The world's top chipmakers still can't manufacture chips fast enough to satisfy the market's insatiable appetite.
1. Intel's big mistakes
2. Declining memory chip prices
3. The COVID-19 crisis
4. Secular tailwinds
5. The ongoing tech war
6. More challenges ahead
What does this shortage mean for investors?

Content: INTC), the world's largest manufacturer of x86 CPUs for PCs and data centers, suffered a chip shortage in 2018 after its troubled development of new 10nm chips impacted its production of 14nm chips. It hadn't resolved that shortage when it stumbled again last year by delaying the launch of its new 7nm chips. Intel's missteps caused more PC makers to buy AMD 's ( NASDAQ: AMD) CPUs, putting a strain on its supply. Image source: Getty Images. Unlike Intel, which manufactures its own chips with its internal foundry, AMD outsources the production of most of its chips to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing ( NYSE: TSM), the world's most advanced chip foundry. As a result, AMD's growth and market share gains applied more pressure to TSMC's plants prior to the pandemic. 2.