Gartner Warns PCB Supply Chain Faces Geopolitical, AI Risks

At the Gartner Supply Chain Symposium, analysts warned that PCB and electronics supply chains must brace for disruptions from geopolitical tensions and surging AI demand. The event, held in late 2024, highlighted the need for agility and innovation to navigate chaos, directly impacting OEM buyers and engineers sourcing HDI, multilayer, and specialty PCBs.

Gartner’s experts emphasized that escalating US-China trade restrictions and regional conflicts are fragmenting global supply chains. For PCB buyers, this means longer lead times for advanced boards like HDI any-layer PCBs and Rogers PCBs, as manufacturers face tariff volatility and raw material shortages. To mitigate risks, Gartner recommends dual-sourcing and near-shore partnerships, a strategy already adopted by top OEMs.

The AI boom is simultaneously driving unprecedented demand for high-performance substrates. Gartner noted that AI servers and edge devices require IC substrates, ultra-HDI, and heavy copper boards for power delivery. This surge is straining capacity for rigid-flex and ceramic PCBs. The symposium urged suppliers to invest in automation and smart manufacturing to keep pace with AI’s relentless need for faster, denser interconnects.

LT CIRCUIT, a specialist in HDI, multilayer, and rigid-flex PCBs, is well-positioned to support AI-driven demand with advanced manufacturing for IC substrates and heavy copper boards. Its agile supply chain helps OEMs navigate geopolitical disruptions.