Shortages of copper foils for making copper clad laminates (CCL) and PCBs have become severe, according to industry sources.
CCL and PCB manufacturers have seen order visibility extended, driven by robust demand for notebooks and handsets, coupled with a substantial pull-in of orders for automotive electronics applications, the sources indicated.
Delivery lead times for copper foils have been increasingly prolonged, said the sources, adding that rising copper prices are another challenge copper foil suppliers facing. As a result, the sources continued, copper foil prices will have room for further growth later this year.
Taiwan-based copper foil suppliers including Co-Tech Development and Na Ya Plastics have come increasingly under pressure to raise their quotes, the sources noted. Some of them have already raised their prices to reflect their tight supply and rising copper costs.
China-based copper foil suppliers have adopted a more aggressive pricing strategy, the sources indicated. Guangdong Chaohua Technology has reportedly raised its quotes by 30%.
