The PCBA Industry at the Start of 2026: AI Drives Market Surge, Intelligent Manufacturing and Material Upgrades Become the Main Themes

The PCBA Industry at the Start of 2026: AI Drives Market Surge, Intelligent Manufacturing and Material Upgrades 

Become the Main Themes

At the start of 2026, the PCBA industry is undergoing profound changes driven by AI. The explosive demand for AI 

computing power is driving both volume and price increases in the PCB market, with the global PCB market projected 

to grow by 12.5% to $95.8 billion in 2026. Simultaneously, intelligent manufacturing is accelerating its transition from 

"automation" to "autonomy," with AI visual quality inspection and process self-optimization technologies being 

implemented intensively. In terms of upstream materials, Japanese manufacturers such as Mitsubishi Gas Chemical 

and Resonac have announced a 30% price increase for key materials such as CCL, exacerbating supply chain 

pressures. Domestic companies, however, have achieved technological breakthroughs in niche areas such as thick 

copper HDI and AI power boards. Furthermore, the globalization of production capacity is accelerating, with Thailand

 becoming a major relocation destination. The industry is standing at the starting point of a new round of growth, with 

high-end manufacturing and material upgrades being key to future competition.

Looking ahead to 2026: Opportunities and Challenges Coexist. A research report from CITIC Securities points out that 

with terminal AI manufacturers finalizing their strategies and downstream PCB manufacturers accelerating production

 ramp-up, the first quarter of 2026 will be a crucial period for verifying the expansion speed, market share increase, and

 profitability of PCB equipment manufacturers. The PCBA segment is expected to continue its year-on-year growth in 

the first quarter. The next stage of material upgrades—the M9 and M9+ era—is rapidly approaching. It is projected that

 by 2026, high-speed transmission architecture will advance to 1.6 Tbps, and PCB board specifications will transition

 from M7 and M8 to the M9 era.

The PCBA industry is standing at the starting point of a new growth cycle. For companies within the industry chain, 

seizing the opportunities for technological upgrades brought by AI, promoting the deep implementation of intelligent 

manufacturing, strengthening supply chain resilience, and globalization will be key issues determining their future

 competitive position.