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50 I-CONNECT007 MAGAZINE I MAY 2026 PCBs, are closely linked to macroeconomic forces, including fluctuating copper prices and demand from data centers and advanced electronics. High- end AI applications absorb a disproportionate share of materials, manufacturing capability, and supply chain attention. So, what happens to everything else that re- quires a PCB when the market cannot secure supply at a viable cost or to a scale matching consumer demand? We know that the demand for these products will not disappear, but the capacity to support them will be squeezed significantly. The Great Reallocation: AI Claims the Supply Chain After China entered the WTO, the rebalancing of the world's manufacturing base accelerated, and the reshaping of some of the world's largest economies. Major OEMs and manufacturers—HP, Dell, Motorola, Flex, and Apple—migrated their manufacturing operations to Asia, which had a sig- nificant effect on PCB manufacturing in the United States. In 1990, there were roughly 1,500 PCB fabrication shops in North America. By 2010, that number had dropped to 300, and today, there are an estimated 150 or fewer PCB shops. AI is, unarguably, the next tipping point. It will bring sweeping transformation to the global supply chain and the world economic balance. Chips are at the core of the AI era, and the PCBs that support them have become central to one of the industry's most significant growth opportunities in decades. PCBs are finally getting their due, viewed now as critical, even strategic. However, this rapid rise of AI infrastructure means capacity will be reallocated across the PCB supply chain. According to QYR Research, "The global market for PCB in AI Servers was esti- mated to be worth US$7452 million in 2024 and is forecast to reach a readjusted size of US$11252 million by 2031 with a CAGR of 6.8% during the forecast period 2025-2031." 1 AI server boards use more layers, higher-speed/low-loss laminates, and heavier board content per system than mainstream electronics, thus their share of laminate glass and copper is higher than may be indicated by the number of PCB units purchased. Within the global CCL market, estimated at $16–$19 billion, AI is a dominant consumer. 2