A shortage of key parts for chipmaking machines is stretching delivery times to as long as 40 months, which is bad news for chipmakers like Samsung and SK Hynix and could delay the global build-out of AI chip factories.

• Korean equipment makers say parts that used to arrive in 4 months now take 10, and one core Japanese-made part took 40 months.
• The AI boom is the main cause: demand for AI chips and memory has exploded, and parts suppliers can't keep up.
• Suppliers are reluctant to expand production because nobody knows when the AI chip super-cycle will end.
• Companies are also avoiding cheap Chinese parts to stay clear of US trade restrictions, leaving few alternatives.
• Even paying extra doesn't help — suppliers say they simply don't have the capacity to ship sooner.

Outlook: Equipment delays are expected to get worse, raising the odds that chipmakers' factory investments, including Samsung and SK Hynix in Korea, get pushed back.