PCB Material Prices Are Rising – What Should PCBA Buyers Do?
2026-07-06
Recently, I've been chatting with several friends who work in procurement, and we all keep coming back to the same topic: PCB material prices are going through the roof.
No exaggeration – FR-4 copper-clad laminate started the year at around 160–170 RMB per sheet, and now it's up to 260 RMB. Some analysts predict it could break 300 RMB by July. Kingboard Laminates has already raised prices five times this year, with cumulative increases exceeding 40%. MLS directly hiked prices by 20% across its entire PCB product line in June.
Why the sharp increase?
The core driver is AI. AI servers consume nearly 10 times more PCBs than standard servers, with layer counts jumping from 20 to over 40 layers. Top-tier manufacturers have their high-end PCB orders booked through Q4 2026.
Factories have shifted production lines to AI-grade boards. Regular materials are getting squeezed out. When supply tightens, prices go up. To make matters worse, upstream materials are also rising – electronic glass fabric has seen five price hikes this year, with average prices doubling from last year's low. Equipment delivery lead times have stretched to over a year, so short-term capacity expansion isn't happening. Industry consensus is that this price rally will last through 2027 or even longer.
What Does This Mean for PCBA Buyers?
Longer lead times: Standard FR-4 supply is tight, with zero inventory on some models
Higher costs: Across-the-board PCB price increases of 20–30% starting July
Downstream impact: Some EV makers and charging module suppliers have already announced price adjustments
How Are We Responding?
STG has been in PCBA for 24 years. We see this market clearly – and we're taking action:
Locking materials ahead: We pre-stock standard laminates and common materials based on customer demand and market forecasts
Suggesting alternatives: If your design doesn't require a specific material, we'll recommend alternative boards with more stable lead times
Being transparent on material costs: We explain exactly why material prices are moving – so you know it's not arbitrary markup
If you're sourcing PCBA right now and your BOM includes FR-4 boards, leave some room in your budget for the coming months. Not sure where material prices are headed, or want to explore alternative options? Send us your BOM. We'll review it and let you know which materials may be at risk – and what alternatives are available.
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