Hurricane Helene: Implications for the semiconductor supply chain

In a best-case scenario where operations in Spruce Pine resume within two weeks, the semiconductor supply chain would likely experience minimal disruption. Existing stockpiles of HPQ would buffer the immediate impact, allowing manufacturers to maintain production without significant delays.

In late September, Hurricane Helene caused significant damage across the southern US. The storm brought heavy rainfall, widespread power outages and forced many residents to evacuate. The damage will impact individuals, families, communities and entire regions for weeks, months and perhaps years. Spruce Pine, NC, a small town vital to the global semiconductor supply chain, was among the hardest hit. It is home to the largest known deposit of high-purity quartz (HPQ), supplying over 70% of the world’s ultrapure quartz, crucial for semiconductor manufacturing.