In 2026, the global printed circuit board (PCB) industry is experiencing a super-cycle driven by explosive demand for AI computing.
Capacity Expansion Boom
By mid-June, 13 PCB manufacturers had announced expansions. Total investment volume: ~59 billion CNY. Wus Printed Circuit accelerated expansion in Q1 2026, with capacity concentrated on key customers. Suntak Technology is ramping up multilayer board capacity in Zhuhai (Phase 2), with the first phase of its Thailand base expected by end of 2026. Shennan Circuits is running at full capacity, investing in high-speed projects in Wuxi and a substrate fab in Guangzhou. Yibo Technology — revenue growth >70% YoY, PCB sales >120% YoY.
Price Increase Cycle Underway
Since late May, PCB manufacturers have raised prices for non-AI customers by 20-30%. Kingboard Laminates again issued price increase letters: material +10%, prepreg +20%. Xinyu Mulinsen Electronics raised prices across its entire PCB line by 20% effective June 12. CITIC Securities: the advanced PCB shortage will persist through end of 2027, with capacity expansion lagging far behind demand growth.
AI Servers — The Primary Growth Driver
PCB specifications and volumes for AI servers far exceed those of traditional servers: GPU modules, high-speed backplanes, power management. The unit cost of advanced PCBs is 5-10x higher. With the release of NVIDIA GB200/Rubin, demand for multilayer boards (20+ layers), HDI, and high-speed materials (M6/M7 CCL) is exploding. Fewer than 15 suppliers worldwide possess these capabilities.
For buyers of small and medium PCB batches, choosing a manufacturing partner with stable capacity and competitive pricing has never been more important.
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