基础化工行业深度报告：AI发展驱动PCB升级，上游材料迎发展良机

Investment Rating - The report maintains an "Outperform" rating for the industry [1]. Core Insights - The development of AI is driving upgrades in PCB technology, leading to increased demand for upstream materials. The global PCB market is expected to reach USD 96.8 billion by 2025 [3]. - The three main materials—copper foil, electronic cloth, and resin—are undergoing expansion and upgrades. High-end copper foil is becoming mainstream, with foreign companies dominating the high-end market while domestic firms gradually enter the supply chain [3]. - The market for silicon micro-powder is expected to grow, with high-performance spherical silicon micro-powder projected to reach a market size of RMB 850 million by 2024, accounting for 49.22% of the total market [3]. - Investment opportunities are highlighted in various segments, including copper foil (e.g., Tongguan Copper Foil, Defu Technology), electronic cloth (e.g., Feilihua, Ping An Electric), resin (e.g., Dongcai Technology), silicon micro-powder (e.g., Lianrui New Materials), and PCB chemicals (e.g., Guangxin Materials) [3]. Summary by Sections AI-Driven PCB Upgrades - The PCB industry is experiencing significant growth due to AI technology and the rise of electric vehicles, with a notable increase in demand for AI servers and automotive electronics [3]. - The trend towards high-density, small aperture, large capacity, and lightweight PCBs is evident, necessitating higher performance from upstream materials [3]. Expansion of Three Main Materials - High-end copper foil demand is on the rise, with HVLP-type copper foil expected to become the mainstream product. Foreign companies currently dominate this segment [3]. - Electronic cloth is becoming thinner and lighter, with domestic companies increasing their investments in high-end electronic cloth [3]. - The performance of copper-clad laminates is largely determined by the resin formulation, with a shift from epoxy resin to more advanced materials [3]. High-End Silicon Micro-Powder and Specialty Chemicals - The upgrade of PCBs is driving the iteration of silicon micro-powder products, with a focus on spherical silicon micro-powder to meet high-end demands [3]. - The market for PCB specialty chemicals is expanding, with foreign companies currently leading while domestic firms accelerate their development [3]. Investment Recommendations - The report suggests focusing on companies involved in copper foil, electronic cloth, resin, silicon micro-powder, and PCB chemicals, highlighting specific firms in each category [3].