Mobile Phone Traders Increasingly Suffering from Consecutive Crises in 2026
The technology industry has been hit by a memory chip shortage crisis since late 2025, causing a surge in retail prices for consumer electronics such as smartphones, laptops, and household appliances. This has also affected electronics product shipments in early 2026.
Reports from research firms IDC and Counterpoint both record a decline in mobile phone shipments in the first quarter of 2026, with Chinese manufacturers receiving the hardest blow. Now, a new shortage crisis has emerged due to the ongoing war in the Middle East.
The Middle East war has triggered rises in oil and plastic prices worldwide, directly impacting the economy. Most recently, the conflict initiated by the United States (US) and Israel against Iran is reported to disrupt the supply chain of crucial raw components, affecting the price increase of printed circuit boards (PCBs).
PCBs function to connect electronic components using conductor paths on an insulator material. PCBs are used in nearly all electronic devices such as smartphones, televisions, and computers.
This disruption becomes a new shock for electronics manufacturing, following the global memory chip shortage that has already influenced sales worldwide.
PCB prices had actually been rising since the end of last year, driven by increasing demand for AI servers. Demand has risen sharply since March 2026 as producers compete to secure raw material supplies and mitigate the impact of skyrocketing costs, according to three industry sources to Reuters, quoted on Monday (27/4/2026).
In April 2026, PCB prices had already jumped 40% compared to March 2026, according to Goldman Sachs analysts in their latest report. Cloud service providers are willing to accept further increases due to high demand in the coming years.
The global PCB industry is projected to grow 12.5% and reach US$95.8 billion in 2026, according to the latest report from Prismark. Daeduck Electronics, a South Korean PCB manufacturer, is said to have begun discussing potential price increases with some customers, according to an unnamed insider source. Daeduck Electronics’ clients include Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, and AMD.
The significant increase in PCB prices is also driven by shortages of several raw components, including fibreglass and copper sheets. Copper sheet prices have surged up to 30% throughout this year, with the rally intensifying in March 2026, the source added.
Copper accounts for around 60% of the total raw material costs in PCB production, according to Victory Giant Technology, a major Chinese PCB supplier for Nvidia. The Chinese company warned earlier this month that the war in the Middle East could drive up prices of key materials including resin and copper.