Demand for new hardware is currently higher than expected, creating the conditions for a critical printed circuit board raw material shortage. Specifically, COVID-19-related quarantine requirements have created a shortage of copper foil used to manufacture PCB boards. Demand for copper foil for PCB and battery production for electric vehicles is increasing, leading to upward pressure on copper foil prices, with pent-up demand starting to outpace production capacity after the lockdown. Delivery times are longer and prices are rising. This negatively affects PCB manufacturers and their supply base. Demand for aluminum for metal-backed printed circuit boards (MPCB) is also increasing, adding to an already tight supply.

Multilayer PCB printed circuit board circuit board production and processing

In short, a global shortage of printed circuit boards is causing widespread manufacturing delays across multiple industries, including automotive and electronics. The auto industry has been most affected by this shortage, with many major auto brands announcing they need to lower production expectations and admitting they don't expect to meet their 2021 production targets. For the electronics industry, there have been previous reports that components for printed circuit boards are running much later than originally planned; as a result of these shortages, component prices have also risen sharply.