Ge Long Hui·2025-10-28 09:59Core Viewpoint - The PCB industry is experiencing unprecedented growth opportunities driven by the surge in AI server demand and the unexpected recovery in traditional sectors, marking the beginning of a new growth cycle for the industry [1][2]. Demand Drivers - The resilience in PCB demand is attributed to a dual-driven pattern of "emerging sectors' explosion + traditional sectors' recovery" [2]. - The demand for PCBs in AI servers has transitioned from a conceptual phase to actual performance, significantly increasing the industry's growth potential [3]. - AI servers require higher PCB content, with UBS estimating that the single-unit PCB content for AI servers is 5-10 times higher than traditional servers, leading to a rapid expansion of the server PCB market [4]. Traditional Sector Recovery - Traditional PCB demand is also recovering, contributing 70-80% of revenue for PCB companies, providing a solid foundation for the industry [5]. - The smartphone sector is benefiting from the unexpected shipment volumes of the iPhone 17 series, with global smartphone shipment forecasts for 2025/26 adjusted to 1.26 billion and 1.27 billion units, reflecting year-on-year growth of 3% and 1% respectively [5]. - The PC market is seeing a resurgence due to the replacement cycle following the end of Windows 10 support, with global PC shipment growth expected to exceed 4% in 2025/26 [5]. PCB Industry Chain Analysis - The PCB industry chain exhibits a concentrated value distribution, with substrates and copper-clad laminates (CCL) being the core raw materials benefiting from the AI demand explosion [7]. - BT substrates are experiencing high utilization rates due to the recovery in storage chip demand and supply shortages of key materials [8]. - The ABF substrate market is undergoing a domestic production acceleration, with potential for Chinese PCB companies to capture market share through cost advantages and localized services [9]. CCL Market Dynamics - The CCL market is characterized by a supply-demand imbalance in high-end products, with high-speed CCL being the most explosive segment due to AI server upgrades [10]. - UBS forecasts a 10-15% increase in high-speed CCL average selling prices (ASP) by the second half of 2025, with tight supply conditions expected to persist into 2026 [11]. Company Performance - Companies like Huadian and Shennan Circuits are well-positioned with full coverage of North American clients and strong relationships with major AI customers [12][13]. - Shenghong Technology is expanding aggressively and maintaining strong customer acquisition trends, while companies like Sinyi Electronics are benefiting from increased orders from AWS [13][14]. - The PCB sector's valuation reflects the industry's upward cycle expectations, with the PCB index rising 70% year-to-date, and a projected net profit CAGR of 42% from 2024 to 2027, indicating reasonable current valuations [17]. Conclusion - The Chinese PCB industry is entering a new upward cycle driven by AI, with upstream segments like substrates and CCL, along with leading companies in the AI server supply chain, being the primary beneficiaries [17].