PCB material shortages intensify as AI infrastructure absorbs laminate capacity
While the semiconductor supply chain has dominated industry attention in recent years, a parallel bottleneck has been building in PCB base materials. AI data centre expansion is absorbing large quantities of high-grade laminates, leaving less capacity available for traditional industrial and automotive applications, according to a joint market analysis by STARTEAM GLOBAL and Würth Elektronik.
The layer count of PCBs used in AI servers is three to five times higher than conventional designs, driving a substantial increase in demand for high-quality PCB materials throughout the supply chain. Industry experts expect demand to remain at elevated levels, or continue to grow, at least through the end of 2026.
The shortage extends beyond copper-clad laminates. Supply pressure is increasingly affecting copper foils, prepregs — particularly PP1080 and PP2116 – high-performance resins and tungsten carbide used in drilling and routing tools. For fibreglass fabrics specifically, no significant easing of supply constraints is expected before 2028.
The consequences are rising prices, longer lead times, reduced price predictability and stricter allocation measures. Production capacities at many manufacturers have already been committed for the long term, further limiting flexibility in responding to short-term demand fluctuations.
"Through our close collaboration with customers, material suppliers, and technology partners, we gain early insights into changes in material availability, manufacturing capacities, and the stability of global supply chains," said Manuel Mairhofer, Member of the Management Board of Würth Elektronik.
Beyond their core manufacturing activities, STARTEAM GLOBAL and Würth Elektronik collaborate on technology exchange and knowledge sharing within the PCB industry, including joint participation in the s.mask initiative alongside Peters Group. The initiative aims to advance innovation in PCB technology and strengthen the industry's resilience to future market changes – a goal that sits directly alongside the supply chain warning the two companies are sounding today.
The analysis mirrors Evertiq's own reporting on the PCB material situation throughout 2026, including the assessment from Confidee COO Raymond Goh that the shortage has moved beyond advanced laminates and is now affecting standard FR-4 and conventional PCB materials.
