STOCKS | PCB Prices Rose Up to 40% in April as Middle East Conflict Disrupts PPE Resin Supply

Disruptions linked to the Middle East conflict are spreading from energy markets into electronics supply chains, after shipping constraints in the Strait of Hormuz halted production at Saudi Arabia’s Jubail Industrial City, a major supplier of PPE resin. According to Jin10, the Jubail industrial zone previously supplied about 70% of global PPE resin, but related plants had already stopped operating by late March due to shipping disruptions. PPE resin is used across modern electronics, including smartphones, laptops, routers, and AI servers. Experts said that if the supply interruption continues into this autumn, consumers could face noticeable price increases. A recent Goldman Sachs report showed that in April, printed circuit board prices rose by as much as 40% from March. Shares of U.S. printed circuit board maker TTM Technologies have risen more than 400% over the past year.