This year, the PCB substrate market faced headwinds in the first half, with major manufacturers experiencing a decline in output compared to last year. However, data from associations and research institutions indicate that Taiwanese manufacturers still lead the global PCB substrate market. Meanwhile, Korean substrate manufacturers have overtaken Japan to become the second largest in the world.
According to TPCA analysis, Japan and South Korea, which have advantages in terminal product design, are gradually exiting the mid-to-low-end products due to their high production costs and technological advantages. They are transitioning to fields that require higher technical barriers, such as flexible boards and substrates. Japan is now the second largest producer of flexible boards and the third largest in substrates, primarily for applications in semiconductors, communications, and automotive electronics.
As for major Korean companies, analysis suggests they are now highly focused on substrate development after exiting the HDI market, making them the second largest substrate producers globally, mainly focused on BT substrates used in mobile APs, DDR, and SSDs. For these companies, observing competitors' strategies amid environmental and market changes is a key issue.
The Japanese PCB industry still produces 50% of its products domestically, followed by mainland China and Southeast Asia (Thailand, Vietnam). In recent years, it has concentrated on substrates and automotive boards, with a focus on ABF substrates. The production of these high-end products is primarily based in Japan, involving manufacturers such as IBIDEN, SHINKO, MEIKO, and KYOCERA.
The analysis also notes that automotive PCB applications are diverse, encompassing flexible boards, HDI, and multilayer products. These products are relatively mature and stable, with labor-intensive production bases located in Japan and overseas, with major manufacturers including MEKTEC, MEIKO, and CMK.
In terms of Korean PCBs, 60% are manufactured domestically, followed by mainland China and Southeast Asia (Vietnam, Malaysia). Korean manufacturers, which initially excelled in HDI, have exited the market in recent years due to competition from Taiwanese and Chinese companies. Major Korean firms like Samsung Electro-Mechanics (SEMCO), LG Innotek, and Daeduck Electronics have shifted towards high-value-added substrate business, enhancing production capacities in South Korea and Southeast Asia. SEMCO, LG Innotek, and Daeduck are actively expanding ABF substrate capacity, while Simmtech continues to deepen its BT substrate and high-end HDI business.
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Source: Economic Daily
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