Core Viewpoint - The report from China Merchants Securities suggests that the PCB industry in 2026 will continue to present long-term investment opportunities in sectors such as computing power boards, CCL, upstream raw materials, equipment, AI edge applications, and domestic substitution. The current AI-driven technological innovation cycle is expected to last longer and generate broader market demand, with optimism from overseas CSP manufacturers regarding AI capital expenditure for 2026 [1] Group 1: Market Overview - The PCB sector experienced a steady upward trend driven by AI computing demand in early 2025, followed by fluctuations due to uncertainties in training-side computing power demand and geopolitical factors. The overall performance of the PCB sector showed significant growth, with a 149.9% increase year-to-date, outperforming the SW electronics sector by 101.2 percentage points and the CSI 300 index by 132.2 percentage points [1] - The PCB industry is currently in an expansion phase, with strong downstream AI computing demand. Despite expected weaknesses in mobile and automotive sectors in 2026, the demand for servers and switches remains robust due to AI infrastructure upgrades [2] Group 2: Supply and Demand Dynamics - The overall utilization rate of PCB manufacturers in the second half of 2025 was between 93-97%, with leading manufacturers maintaining optimistic order visibility for over three months. The industry is entering a new capacity expansion phase, focusing on high-end HDI, high multi-layer boards, and high-end substrates [2] - The demand for high-end HDI and high multi-layer boards is rapidly increasing, with a projected 25% year-on-year growth in AI capital expenditure, amounting to approximately $550 billion in 2026. The server PCB market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 18.7% from 2024 to 2029, reaching $25.7 billion [3] Group 3: Product and Price Trends - The prices of copper and gold are expected to remain high, with upward trends in copper foil processing fees and fiberglass cloth. The overall price outlook for the PCB/CCL industry remains bullish for 2026 [2] - The AI-driven demand for CCL is leading to significant upgrades in specifications, with the high-speed CCL market projected to reach approximately $8 billion in 2026, driven by a CAGR of 40% from 2024 to 2027 [6] Group 4: Upstream Materials and Equipment - The demand for high-end products in upstream materials is accelerating, with significant upgrades in electronic copper foil, resin, and fiberglass cloth. The supply of high-end materials is becoming increasingly tight [7] - Domestic equipment manufacturers are expected to benefit from the PCB expansion cycle and the accelerated domestic substitution of high-end equipment, particularly in drilling and laser drilling sectors [8]

Core Viewpoint - The PCB/CCL industry is experiencing a positive demand trend driven by AI computing power, with high utilization rates and expectations for continued growth in the second quarter of 2025. The overall demand is expected to remain strong due to advancements in AI applications and the increasing need for high-end products in the market [2][3][4]. Group 1: Industry Trends - The industry is in an expansion phase, with downstream AI innovations driving demand upward. The overall demand for consumer electronics, automotive, and server upgrades is expected to improve [3][16]. - PCB manufacturers are operating at a capacity utilization rate of 90-95% in Q1 2025, with expectations for continued upward trends in Q2. The industry is entering a new capacity expansion phase, focusing on high-end HDI and multilayer boards [3][24][23]. - The global PCB market is projected to grow by 6.8% in 2025, with significant contributions from AI-related applications [33][35]. Group 2: Demand Drivers - AI computing power is driving rapid growth in high-end HDI and multilayer demand, with a tight supply-demand relationship expected to persist [4][43]. - The demand for CCL materials is increasing, particularly for high-frequency and high-speed applications, with leading domestic manufacturers poised to benefit significantly [5][29]. - The automotive sector is also seeing a trend towards smart technology, which is expected to drive demand for upgraded PCB specifications [6][20]. Group 3: Investment Opportunities - Investment opportunities are identified in the PCB supply chain, particularly in high-end boards, CCL, and domestic replacements. The ongoing AI-driven technological innovation cycle is expected to create broader market demand [8][9]. - Companies involved in high-end PCB production, such as those focusing on AI server applications, are recommended for investment due to the anticipated growth in this segment [8][9]. - The domestic PCB industry is expanding its high-end capacity and increasing its overseas presence, indicating a positive outlook for future performance [24][25].

Investment Rating - The report maintains a positive investment outlook for the PCB industry, suggesting active monitoring of investment opportunities in the sector [2]. Core Insights - The PCB and CCL industry is experiencing upward demand driven by AI computing needs, with high utilization rates and a favorable market outlook for 2025 [1][12]. - The report highlights that the overall demand is on an upward trend, particularly due to AI applications and the automotive industry's smart technology advancements [1][6]. - The PCB industry is entering a new expansion cycle, with significant capital expenditure expected to support high-end HDI and multilayer boards [26][27]. Summary by Sections 1. Industry Sentiment Tracking - The PCB industry is in an expansion phase, with downstream AI innovations driving demand upward. The overall demand for consumer electronics and automotive applications is expected to improve [12][13]. - The global PCB market is projected to reach $73.57 billion in 2024, with a year-on-year growth of 5.8%, driven by various applications including consumer electronics and automotive electronics [13][19]. 2. AI Computing and Innovation - AI computing is expected to significantly boost the demand for high-end HDI and multilayer boards, with the server PCB market projected to grow at a CAGR of 11.6% from 2024 to 2029, reaching $18.9 billion [1][6]. - The demand for CCL is also increasing, with domestic leading manufacturers likely to benefit from the rising need for high-frequency and high-speed materials [1][6]. 3. Investment Recommendations - The report suggests focusing on investment opportunities in the PCB supply chain, particularly in areas related to AI computing, CCL, and domestic replacements [6][12]. - Key companies to watch include Shenghong Technology, Huadian Co., and Shennan Circuit, among others, which are positioned to benefit from the ongoing demand surge [6][12].