Core Insights - The PCB industry is experiencing unprecedented growth opportunities driven by the surge in AI server demand and the unexpected recovery in traditional sectors [1][2] Demand Drivers - The resilience in PCB demand is attributed to a dual-driven model of emerging sectors' explosion and the recovery of traditional fields [2] - AI technology breakthroughs are pushing the industry into a "golden phase" of simultaneous volume and price increases [2] - AI server PCB demand is expected to significantly increase, with Nvidia's GB 200/300 NVL72 shipments projected to meet expectations by 2025, and Blackwell & Rubin series shipments potentially exceeding 50,000-60,000 units by 2026 [2][3] - The technical requirements for AI servers far exceed those of traditional servers, with high-layer count (HLC) and high-density interconnect (HDI) boards becoming core demands [2] Market Dynamics - UBS estimates that the single-unit PCB content for AI servers is 5-10 times higher than that of traditional servers, significantly driving the server PCB market [3] - The domestic AI chip and cluster solutions are accelerating the formation of a local AI server supply chain, benefiting companies like Shenzhen Circuits and Huitian Technology [3] - Traditional PCB demand is also recovering, contributing 70-80% of revenue from sectors like smartphones, PCs, and general servers [3] Sector-Specific Insights - The smartphone sector is benefiting from the unexpected shipment volume of the iPhone 17 series, with global smartphone shipment forecasts for 2025/26 raised to 1.26 billion and 1.27 billion units, reflecting year-on-year growth of 3% and 1% respectively [3] - The PC market is seeing a recovery driven by the replacement cycle following the end of Windows 10 support, with global PC shipment growth expected to exceed 4% in 2025/26 [3] - General server demand is notably resilient, with global shipments projected to grow by 8.6% and 8.0% in 2025/26, and hyperscale data center shipments expected to grow by 17.8% and 9.8% [4] Industry Chain Analysis - The PCB industry chain shows a concentration of value in upstream segments, with substrates and copper-clad laminates (CCL) being the most certain segments benefiting from AI demand [5] - BT substrates are experiencing high utilization rates due to the recovery in storage chip demand and supply shortages of key materials [7] - The price of BT substrates has increased by 30% this year, with further increases expected by year-end [8] - The high-speed CCL segment is seeing explosive demand driven by AI server upgrades, with prices expected to rise by 10-15% in the second half of 2025 [9] Company Profiles - Shenzhen Circuits: Covers major North American clients [10] - Huitian Technology: Main PCB supplier for Google and optical modules [11] - Shenghong Technology: Strong position with Nvidia and aggressive capacity expansion [12] - Sany Electronics: Significant orders from AWS leading to strong Q3 performance [13] - Sany Technology: Strong earnings certainty due to CCL price increases [14] - Dazhu CNC: Q3 performance exceeded expectations, reflecting PCB segment dynamics [15] - Ding Tai High-Tech: Facing process challenges due to high difficulty in Q fabric [16] - Zhongcai Technology: Expected to benefit from sustained PCB demand in the coming year [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 [18]