Is the chip shortage over? Many manufacturers have stated that the "chip shortage" has been alleviated

As the earnings season gradually unfolds, many corporate executives are discussing current industry supply chain issues at earnings conferences. On Thursday, executives from many different fields of companies all sent out the same signal: the "chip shortage" problem that seriously troubled them last year has now eased.

This is undoubtedly a shot in the arm for downstream manufacturers; but for chip manufacturers, the mood may be more complicated - although chip supply has increased, the chip industry still needs to deal with rising raw material prices, tight energy markets, and rising interest rates that suppress consumer demand. These factors may continue to suppress profit margins.

Many corporate executives said that the "chip shortage" has been alleviated

Hyundai Motor released a strong financial report on Thursday, showing that the company achieved its highest quarterly profit in eight years in the second quarter.

Hyundai Motor executives mentioned at the earnings conference that the easing of the global chip shortage has helped the company greatly, allowing the company to resume overtime and weekend shifts at domestic factories. Hyundai Motor now plans to continue expanding production in the second half of the year to meet consumer demand.

Swiss industrial robot giant ABB said in its second quarter report that the semiconductor chip bottleneck is currently easing. ABB is the leader in industrial robots in Europe and even the world. The control systems and motors produced by the company are widely used in the transportation industry and factories, and its business performance is often regarded as a barometer of the global economy.

ABB executives said the semiconductor shortage was severe at the beginning of the year, but the situation is improving. The company expects double-digit revenue growth in the next three months as increased chip supply reduces the pressure on the company to deliver factory robots, motors and drives.

ABB CEO Rosengren said chipmakers' production capacity is increasing, and weakening demand from other industries such as consumer electronics has allowed industrial customers such as ABB to get more chips. He said: "I can't say the problem is completely solved, but we think the situation in the second half of the year looks pretty good."

Telecom equipment maker Nokia also said it expects the global semiconductor shortage to ease later this year.

"The overall direction of the semiconductor industry is positive at the moment, but it does continue to be constrained in the second quarter," said Nokia Chief Executive Pekka Lundmark.

Volkswagen said last month it expected strong growth in the second half of the year as chip shortages would gradually ease and offset the negative impact of supply chain bottlenecks and rising costs.

Electrolux, Europe's largest home appliance maker, reported second-quarter earnings that missed expectations. The company said the poor performance was mainly due to supply chain problems and losses in its North American business, but the company expects supply chain constraints to ease in the second half of the year.

The company's executives also specifically mentioned that the semiconductor supply situation in the second half of the year looks better than in the first half.