US Dollar Slips After PCE Inflation Data as Fed Rate Hike Expectations Stay Elevated 
Asian Currencies Stay Range-Bound as Investors Eye China Data, RBNZ Outlook and U.S.-Iran Ceasefire 
Gold Price Hits Annual Low as Fed Rate Hike Bets and Sticky Inflation Weigh on Bullion 
Argentina Economy Shrinks 1.5% in April, Recovery Under Milei Loses Momentum 
China Expands Export Controls, Adds 20 Japanese Companies to Restricted List 
US Stock Futures Steady as Investors Await Payrolls Data and Monitor Iran Tensions 
Asian Stocks End Strong Quarter as Dollar Surges, Yen Hits 40-Year Low Ahead of US Jobs Data 
Oil Prices Rise as US-Iran Tensions Threaten Strait of Hormuz Oil Shipments 
China Sets 1.25% Overnight Reverse Repo Rate Below Market Expectations 
Dollar Slips Ahead of Key U.S. Jobs Data as Fed Rate Outlook, ECB, and Iran Talks Shape Forex Markets 
Gold Price Falls as Fed Rate Hike Fears and U.S.-Iran Tensions Weigh on Bullion 
Trump Threatens 100% Tariffs on Countries Imposing Digital Services Taxes on U.S. Tech Firms 
Global Financial Firms Shift Asia Expansion Focus to South Korea as China, India Face Caution 
China Manufacturing PMI Edges Higher in June as Exports and AI Investment Boost Growth 
Gold Prices Drop as Fed Rate Outlook and Iran Tensions Weigh on Market 
Central Banks Eye Gold, Reduce Dollar Exposure as AI Adoption Accelerates: OMFIF Survey 
Economic pessimism has set in – but there are reasons for Australians to be hopeful 
The ongoing conflict in the Middle East is sending shockwaves through the global electronics industry, driving up prices of printed circuit boards (PCBs) and disrupting the supply of critical raw materials. PCBs are essential components used in nearly all electronic devices, including smartphones, computers, and AI servers, making the impact widespread across multiple sectors.
A major trigger behind the price surge is the disruption of high-purity polyphenylene ether (PPE) resin production. Iran’s recent strike on Saudi Arabia’s Jubail petrochemical complex forced a halt in operations, significantly affecting global supply. SABIC, which produces around 70% of the world’s high-purity PPE, has yet to resume output, tightening availability and increasing costs for PCB manufacturers worldwide. Additionally, shipping routes in the Gulf region have been heavily affected, further straining supply chains.
PCB prices have already been rising since late 2025 due to strong demand for AI infrastructure. However, the situation worsened in April, with prices jumping by as much as 40% compared to March, according to industry analysts. Cloud service providers continue to absorb these higher costs, anticipating sustained demand growth for AI servers in the coming years.
Electronics manufacturers are now facing multiple cost pressures, including rising prices of copper foil and glass fiber—two key materials in PCB production. Copper alone accounts for roughly 60% of total raw material costs, and its price has surged by up to 30% this year. Supply shortages have also extended lead times for materials like epoxy resin from three weeks to as long as 15 weeks.
Industry players such as South Korea’s Daeduck Electronics have begun negotiating price increases with major clients, including Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix. Meanwhile, Chinese supplier Victory Giant Technology has warned that geopolitical tensions could push costs even higher.
Despite these challenges, the global PCB market is projected to grow 12.5% to reach $95.8 billion in 2026, driven largely by expanding demand for advanced electronics and AI technologies.
