《Technology》AI Computing Power Drives PCB Industry Upgrade; Thailand Emerges as a New High-End Manufacturing Hub

2026/04/29

Commercial Times

April 2, 2026

Reporter: Chang Han-chi

[Taipei Report by Chang Han-chi, Times Reporter] Thailand is becoming a key hub for the next wave of high-end manufacturing in the electronics industry. According to a report, the demand for AI computing power is becoming a major driving force for the growth of the global PCB industry, accelerating high-end manufacturing and supply chain restructuring, bringing a new wave of growth opportunities to Thailand's industry and economy. However, although Thailand's PCB industry is expanding rapidly, its overall ecosystem still needs improvement. Currently, 46% of companies have a local sourcing ratio of less than 20%, indicating that local supply chain integration still needs to be strengthened.

At a critical juncture of global supply chain restructuring and explosive growth in AI computing power demand, Thailand is emerging as a key hub for the next wave of high-end manufacturing in the electronics industry. The Taiwan Printed Circuit Association (TPCA) and the Thai Printed Circuit Association (THPCA) co-hosted the "2026 Thailand PCB Industry Summit," releasing an industry survey report titled "Opportunities for the Thai PCB Industry at the Intersection of the AI Wave and Geopolitics." Through cross-regional questionnaires and industry opinion summaries, the report reveals the shared concerns of the PCB industries in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Thailand regarding investment strategies, supply chain localization, and talent development in Thailand. This not only enhances the report's representativeness but also highlights the trend of closer regional collaboration within the Asian PCB industry amidst global industrial restructuring.

According to the report, the global PCB market continues to grow, driven by investment in AI infrastructure, with the market size projected to reach US$92.4 billion in 2025. Looking ahead to 2026, it is expected to further climb to US$113.7 billion, representing an annual growth rate of 23.1%. The report points out that the demand for AI computing power is becoming the main driving force for the growth of the global PCB industry, accelerating high-end manufacturing and supply chain restructuring, bringing a new wave of growth opportunities to Thailand's industry and economy.

Looking at the development trajectory of Thailand's PCB industry, more than 60 PCB manufacturers have established operations there in recent years. The region is gradually moving towards becoming a high-value manufacturing hub, continuously absorbing application demands from AI servers, high-end communications, and automotive electronics. Automotive electronics applications account for 31%, ranking first among all application areas, demonstrating the continued effectiveness of Thailand's existing automotive industry cluster. On the other hand, with the gradual implementation of investments from over 100 PCB supply chain companies in recent years, the increasing demand for AI servers and communications is also driving the development of Thailand's PCB product structure towards high-value-added directions such as high-end multilayer boards (47%) and high-density interconnect boards (HDI, 23%).

The report points out that while Thailand's PCB industry is expanding rapidly, its overall ecosystem still needs improvement. Currently, 46% of companies source less than 20% of their products locally, indicating that local supply chain integration needs strengthening. During the industry-government dialogue at the summit, industry representatives focused on four key issues: First, regarding mechanism optimization, they suggested extending the validity of urgent work permits to 60-90 days and allowing applications to be made in Taiwan before arrival in Thailand to facilitate smooth production of key processes. Second, addressing the talent shortage, they called on the government to support industry-academia collaboration programs and internship systems, and to subsidize corporate training programs. Third, in terms of infrastructure, with increasing demand for high-end manufacturing, stable electricity, green energy, and water resource management capabilities are crucial for ensuring stable operations.

Finally, industry representatives pointed out that under Thailand's semiconductor development policy, ensuring the sound development of the PCB industry chain is essential to laying a solid foundation for Thailand's technological development. Therefore, they unanimously called on the Thai government to include PCBs in the national key development industries and strengthen policy support for the PCB industry to further enhance Thailand's competitiveness in the global AI supply chain.

The report shows that the most significant gap currently lies in local material supply (35%), followed by the need for operators and engineering technicians (22%), and equipment parts logistics and maintenance services (21%). These multiple challenges, from materials and equipment to talent supply, indicate that for Thailand's PCB industry to support its next stage of development, it must simultaneously strengthen its supply chain and talent cultivation foundation. It is estimated that by 2030, the demand for related talent will further increase to 74,200.

As the industry's layout gradually takes shape, the next stage of focus for Thailand's PCB industry is no longer just about expanding production capacity, but about accelerating the construction of a high-end manufacturing ecosystem. Future competitiveness will depend on the localization of the supply chain, the continuous improvement of talent cultivation, and related supporting facilities. TPCA will continue to collaborate with THPCA, BOI, IEAT, NXPO, TECO, and others to plan more diverse professional talent cultivation cooperation platforms, helping to channel government resources into enterprises, jointly supporting the PCB industry chain, enhancing the professional capabilities of Thai talent, and ultimately making a significant contribution to the overall Thai socio-economic development.

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