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]

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 of shortages lasting for another year [2] - The demand for PCBs is projected to remain strong over the next 2-3 years, with a peak expected in Q4, despite the ongoing material shortages [2][3] - The shortage is attributed to a surge in demand from the recovering global electronics industry and the vulnerabilities in the supply chain [2][5] Industry Overview - The global demand for AI servers is driving a substantial increase in capital expenditures among major cloud service providers, with a forecasted total exceeding $420 billion by 2025, representing a 61% increase from previous years [3][4] - The price of PCBs for AI training servers can exceed $200,000, significantly higher than traditional server PCBs, which range from $3,000 to $15,000 [3][4] - The supply shortage is affecting the entire PCB industry, particularly in core materials like copper foil, which has a projected demand of 850 tons per month by 2025 against a current production capacity of only 700 tons [4][5] Financial Performance - Leading PCB manufacturers are experiencing substantial revenue growth, with companies like Huadian achieving a 39.92% increase in revenue to 5.019 billion yuan and a 46.25% rise in net profit to 1.035 billion yuan in Q3 [6] - Willgo reported a 41.33% increase in revenue to 407 million yuan and a remarkable 175.75% increase in net profit [6] Market Trends - The global PCB market is expected to enter a new growth cycle, with a projected market value of $73.565 billion in 2024, reflecting a 5.8% year-on-year growth [7] - By 2029, the global PCB market value is anticipated to reach $94.661 billion, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 5.2% from 2024 to 2029 [7] Capacity Expansion - At least 11 PCB companies have announced expansion plans, with significant investments aimed at increasing high-end production capacity to meet rising demand [9] - Companies like Jingwang Electronics and Shengyi Technology are investing heavily in expanding their production capabilities, with plans to invest 5 billion yuan and 1.9 billion yuan, respectively [9] Strategic Insights - While leading companies are expanding capacity to capture AI market opportunities, there is a risk of overcapacity if demand growth slows down post-2026 [10] - Smaller manufacturers are advised to focus on niche markets and technological differentiation to avoid direct competition with larger firms and mitigate risks associated with overcapacity [10][11]