半导体芯闻·2026-01-14 09:42Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the critical shortage of high-end glass fiber, particularly from Nittobo, which is impacting the production of printed circuit boards (PCBs) essential for electronic devices, including iPhones and AI chips. This shortage is expected to create significant bottlenecks in the electronics manufacturing and AI industries by 2026 [2][4][6]. Group 1: Supply Chain Challenges - Apple is competing with major companies like Nvidia, Google, and Amazon for the limited supply of high-end glass fiber, which is crucial for chip substrates and PCBs [2][4]. - The demand for high-performance PCBs has surged due to the growth of artificial intelligence, leading to supply shortages that affect not only Apple but also Qualcomm [2][4]. - Apple has taken proactive measures, including sending employees to Japan to secure more materials and even seeking assistance from the Japanese government to increase supply from Nittobo [4][6]. Group 2: Industry Impact - The shortage of glass fiber is described as one of the biggest bottlenecks facing the electronics and AI industries in 2026, according to industry insiders [4][6]. - Companies like Qualcomm and AMD are also feeling the pressure, with Qualcomm exploring alternative suppliers to mitigate the supply constraints [6][7]. - The specific type of glass in demand is low thermal expansion coefficient (CTE) glass, known for its stability and high-speed data transmission capabilities, which are critical for AI computing and advanced processors [7].