PCB Shortage Wave: CCL Prices Surge 70%; Korean Manufacturers Reportedly Rush to Secure Supply from Taiwan Union and Elite Material

Source：TPCA　Updated Time：2026/05/06

Rising demand from AI servers, data centers, and autonomous driving has tightened supply of copper clad laminate (CCL), a core PCB material, putting Korean PCB manufacturers under rare material shortage pressure. According to Korean media reports, the import unit price of CCL in March this year exceeded US$20,000 per metric ton for the first time, reaching a record high since statistics began in 2000. Some industry players said that, after more than 20 years in the PCB industry, this is the first time they have encountered a situation where production could not proceed due to insufficient CCL supply.

According to Korean media, data from the Korea Customs Service showed that the CCL import unit price reached US$20,728 per metric ton in March, up 74.5% from US$11,880 in the same period last year. CCL is a key material for printed circuit boards (PCBs), mainly composed of copper foil, glass fabric, and resin. It is widely used in high-end electronic products such as AI semiconductors, communications equipment, servers, and autonomous driving systems.

The main driver of this material shortage is the rapid expansion of demand from high-end applications. As AI chips such as NVIDIA’s Blackwell increase demand for advanced PCB materials, CCL manufacturers have prioritized capacity for higher value-added products such as T-Glass, squeezing the supply of standard E-Glass materials. This has made it significantly more difficult for small and medium-sized PCB manufacturers to secure materials.

Tight supply has also boosted the performance of related companies. The report noted that major manufacturers with advanced CCL supply capabilities, such as Doosan and Samsung Electro-Mechanics, have benefited significantly. Doosan, in particular, is viewed by the market as an important CCL supplier in NVIDIA’s Blackwell supply chain, and its share price has risen sharply over the past two years, reflecting growing market demand for core AI materials.

With domestic supply in Korea insufficient, some PCB manufacturers have turned to Taiwanese suppliers for sourcing. The report mentioned that a PCB manufacturer located in the Seoul metropolitan area recently placed a preorder worth around KRW 10 billion with Taiwan Union Technology and Elite Material, equivalent to more than five times its usual monthly usage. However, the company said that even with advance orders, delivery timing remains uncertain. Materials that used to be obtainable in about one month may now take more than six months to arrive, and some companies are even considering air freight to shorten waiting times.

China’s supply chain has also been unable to fully fill the gap. Industry sources said that, in addition to existing suppliers, companies have also tried to develop sources in China, but have recently continued to receive notices of delayed delivery. As global CCL supply remains tight, and with exchange rates and oil prices pushing up transportation costs, PCB manufacturers are facing growing pressure on order fulfillment and delivery.

Source: NOWnews

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