Core Insights - The PCB supply chain is facing significant shortages of upstream materials, particularly affecting high-end substrates like ABF and BT boards, with expectations that shortages will persist for another year [1] - The demand for PCBs is expected to remain strong over the next 2-3 years, with a peak in the fourth quarter of the current year, despite the ongoing material shortages [1][3] - The shortage is attributed to a surge in demand from the recovering global electronics industry and highlights the vulnerabilities in the supply chain [1][4] Material Shortages - Key materials such as T-Glass, quartz cloth, and low CTE fiberglass are in short supply, impacting the production of high-end PCBs [1] - The global demand for HVLP4-grade copper foil, essential for AI servers, is projected to exceed supply, with a current monthly production capacity of only 700 tons against a demand of 850 tons [3][4] - The supply of fiberglass materials is also constrained, with a projected demand of 18.5 million meters by 2026, while current capacity is only 10 million meters, resulting in a shortage of over 50% [3] Market Dynamics - The AI server market is driving a significant increase in PCB prices, with standard server PCBs priced between $3,000 and $15,000, while AI training server PCBs can exceed $200,000 [3] - Major cloud service providers are expected to increase their capital expenditures significantly, with a forecasted total exceeding $420 billion by 2025, marking a 61% increase from previous years [3] Financial Performance - Leading PCB manufacturers like Huadian and Weiergao reported substantial revenue growth in Q3 2025, with Huadian achieving a revenue of 5.019 billion yuan, up 39.92%, and a net profit increase of 46.25% [6] - The PCB industry is entering a new growth cycle, with a projected market value of $73.565 billion in 2024, reflecting a 5.8% year-on-year increase [7] Capacity Expansion - At least 11 PCB companies have announced expansion plans to increase high-end production capacity, with significant investments planned [7][8] - Companies like Jingwang Electronics and Shengyi Technology are investing heavily in new projects to meet the rising demand for high-end PCBs [8] Strategic Considerations - While leading companies are expanding capacity, there is a risk of overcapacity if AI demand slows down, particularly if growth rates drop below 15% post-2026 [9][10] - Smaller manufacturers are advised to focus on niche markets and technological differentiation to avoid direct competition with larger firms [9][10]