AI Boosts PCB Demand, Driving Dry Film Market Towards High-End and Domestic Production
A research report from CITIC Securities believes that photosensitive dry film, a key consumable for PCB circuit pattern transfer, is poised for significant growth. The global Printed Circuit Board (PCB) and substrate market is experiencing a structural upswing, fueled by demand from AI servers, data centers, and high-speed networking equipment. This trend is expected to drive the photosensitive dry film market to reach RMB 9.5 billion in 2026, growing to RMB 13.6 billion by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 9.4% between 2025 and 2030. Currently, the global dry film market is dominated by companies from Taiwan, China, and Japan. However, with leading PCB manufacturers increasingly adopting domestically produced dry film and the concentration of downstream PCB production capacity in China, domestic Chinese companies are projected to capture a growing share of the market. This shift indicates a trend towards both higher-end product development and increased localization within the Chinese dry film industry.
AI-driven demand for advanced computing infrastructure, such as AI servers and data centers, is creating a structural growth cycle for the PCB and related component markets. The photosensitive dry film sector, essential for PCB manufacturing, is directly benefiting from this trend, indicating a strategic opportunity for market expansion and technological advancement. The report highlights a shift towards domestic production and higher-end applications, suggesting that geopolitical considerations and supply chain resilience are becoming increasingly important factors in the industry. As downstream manufacturing capacity is concentrated in China, the growth of domestic dry film suppliers is likely to be accelerated, potentially reshaping the global competitive landscape. This evolution warrants attention to the interplay between technological innovation, market demand, and national industrial strategies in the high-tech manufacturing sector.
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