AI Demand Reportedly Strains PCB and Chip Substrate Supply
AI data-center demand is reportedly diverting PCB and chip-substrate production capacity from PC and consumer-electronics makers. Nikkei Asia reports that some PCB lead times have stretched to 30 months, copper-clad laminate costs have risen at least 12-fold since July 2026, and one major supplier's order book extends into 2030.
Long lead times and constrained materials could complicate supply planning for PC makers such as HP and Dell and affect production beyond the PC market, according to Nikkei Asia and TechSpot.
The AI industry continues to gobble up manufacturing resources that were once dedicated to serving PC, smart device, and gadget makers. We’ve seen huge demand/supply driven price rises in RAM, GPUs, SSDs, and more through 2026. Now that most basic and unglamorous electronics necessity, the PCB, looks set to join them. A news report published by Nikkei Asia quotes several leading PC and PCB industry managers, making it clear we are going to see PCB (and PCB subcomponent) shortages and price rises in the coming months.
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