PCB Market Trends and Forecast Through 2026 I

Rigid PCBs continue to dominate the global PCB market, accounting for a combined share of approximately 51% in 2021, with single/double-sided PCBs making up around 11.4% and multilayer PCBs around 39.1%. Flexible PCBs accounted for roughly 20%, HDI boards for 15%, and IC substrates for 14%. With the continued evolution of smart electronic terminal devices—such as wearables—toward lighter, thinner, and more compact forms, PCBs are expected to evolve in the direction of higher precision, higher integration, and miniaturization. This trend will likely drive the growth of flexible PCBs, HDI boards, and IC substrates.
Most PCB manufacturers in mainland China are still focused on the production of standard PCB products, while the research and development of high-end PCBs are still in the early stages. As a result, domestic players currently lack strong competitiveness in the high-end segment of the market.
From a product structure perspective, high-value-added products such as flexible PCBs, HDI boards, and IC substrates are steadily increasing their market share, although they still account for a relatively small portion. Among these, IC substrates—with the highest technical requirements—accounted for only about 4% of total output in 2020. In mainland China, only a few domestic manufacturers such as SCC (Shennan Circuits), Suntak Technology, and Zhuhai Access currently possess the capability to produce such products.