Why is STM32F303RET6 not available ?

[PTilm.1]

We created a design with a STM303RET6 (lqfp64) microcontroller. For the first prototype pcb's we need 5 of this type microcontroller. But the problem is that no one can deliver this item (e.g. Farnell, Mouser etc). They don't give any explanation why.

As you can imagine we feel a little uncertain over really using this microcontroller in

new designs.

Questions :

1 - Why is this component not immediately available ?

2 - Why can't I get any (free) samples of this component ?

3 - Other microcontrollers in this family are also not available. Why ?

Regards Pier Tilma

The Netherlands

[Tesla DeLorean]

Perhaps read the odd business article about the situation?

There is a world wide shortage of fab capacity, due to a number of factors, and people with already pending orders are getting their parts ahead of you. The line is long.

Delivery times, ie order to shipment perhaps 35 weeks. No free stock for random buys or samples. Try parts brokers.

https://hbr.org/2021/02/why-were-in-the-midst-of-a-global-semiconductor-shortage

https://www.extremetech.com/computing/318554-a-massive-chip-shortage-is-hitting-the-entire-semiconductor-industry

[waclawek.jan]

This is a recurring theme last few months, a selection of threads (simply search here for "shortage")

https://community.st.com/s/question/0D53W00000PSUgLSAX/helloare-you-in-trouble-buying-a-stm32f030i-have-trouble-buying-stm32f030-in-the-middle-east-in-most-stores-the-stock-of-stm32f030-is-zerohas-the-production-of-the-series-stopped-or-is-this-deficiency-due-to-the-coronavirus

https://community.st.com/s/question/0D53W00000ZTB0ISAX/availability-of-stm32f303

JW