Electronics manufacturers around the world are reporting supply chain disruptions linked to extreme heat, with delays in supplier deliveries emerging as the most significant impact, according to a Global Electronics Association survey released Tuesday.
Nearly half of the manufacturers surveyed said supplier fulfillment had been the area most affected by extreme heat. In North America, Europe and Asia Pacific, 50% of respondents reported disruptions involving supplier deliveries.
The survey did not identify the precise nature of those delivery delays. However, Global Electronics Association Chief Economist Shawn DuBravac told Supply Chain Dive that several factors were likely involved, including labor challenges, constraints at supplier facilities, as well as freight and warehouse bottlenecks.
“My sense is that it was probably an assortment of different things that would fall under that broader category of supplier delays,” DuBravac said.
Overall, two-fifths of manufacturers worldwide reported experiencing some form of heat-related supply chain disruption. In North America, minor or no disruptions were the most common responses, with 20% of manufacturers reporting minor disruptions and 57% saying they had experienced no disruptions. Moderate and major interruptions were each reported by 6%.
North American electronics supply chains feel the effects of extreme heat
The percentage of specific disruptions reported by North American electronics manufacturers whose operations were affected by extreme heat in 2026.
More than four-fifths of manufacturers worldwide that experienced heat-related disruptions said the events had negatively affected productivity and operational throughput. In North America, 13% reported major impacts, while 50% described the impact as moderate.
“To me, a moderate impact would be something that has to be addressed, something that impacted throughput, that impacted production schedules,” DuBravac said.
Even North American companies that had not yet experienced heat-related disruptions remain concerned about what could happen. The survey found that the most frequently anticipated bottlenecks were operating constraints, including cooling limitations, and power reliability issues, such as curtailments, at 29% each.
Other potential problems identified by manufacturers included transportation delays, unplanned equipment downtime and supplier delivery delays, each cited by 17% of North American respondents. Single-digit percentages anticipated disruptions involving customer demand, missed shifts, reduced staffing and product quality defects.
The exposure is also significant at a global level. More than half of manufacturers worldwide said their supply chains were exposed to severe heat-related disruptions. In North America, 47% reported some degree of exposure, including more than 40% who described themselves as somewhat or slightly exposed and 6% who said they were highly exposed.
The outlook suggests the pressure could persist. More than two-thirds of manufacturers worldwide expect extreme heat to disrupt productivity or operational throughput in the coming years. Among North American manufacturers, 14% anticipate major or moderate impacts, while 32% expect minor impacts.
For DuBravac, the findings reinforce the importance of preparing before the next period of extreme heat arrives. He said manufacturers should use the cooler months to build contingency plans and test how operations would respond to prolonged heat.
“If I were advising a manufacturer, I would tell them now is the perfect time to run scenario plans on what happens to your operations if you had a week of 110-degree weather, if you had two weeks of 110-degree weather, if you had three weeks of 110-degree weather,” DuBravac said.
He added that manufacturers need a clear response plan in advance rather than trying to establish procedures while disruption is already underway.
