EMC’s Rise to No. 1: AI Servers Redefine the Global CCL Supply Chain

EMC’s Rise to No. 1: AI Servers Redefine the Global CCL Supply Chain When the market discusses AI servers, attention usually centers on GPUs, HBM, and advanced packaging. However, as computing performance increases, switches migrate from 400G to 800G and eventually 1.6T, and system architectures become more complex, performance bottlenecks are spreading across a much broader supply chain. Copper-clad laminate, or CCL, is one of the most easily overlooked—but increasingly critical—components. According to Prismark, excluding mass laminate but including prepreg, the global CCL market reached US$18.68 billion in 2025, up 24.4% from US$15.01 billion in 2024. Elite Material Co., Ltd. (EMC) captured a 16.2% global market share, surpassing Shengyi Technology and Kingboard Laminates to become the world’s largest CCL supplier. This is more than a change in supplier rankings. It reflects how AI infrastructure is redistributing value across the global materials supply chain. From a Cost Component to a Critical Signal-Integrity Material For traditional servers and networking equipment, CCL requirements were primarily centered on cost, manufacturability, and supply stability. In the AI era, however, internal data-transfer volumes, signal frequencies, and PCB layer counts are all increasing. CCL is no longer merely a base material used to support electronic circuits. It has become a critical medium that directly affects system performance. When electrical signals travel through high-speed and high-frequency systems, material properties such as dielectric constant, dissipation factor, moisture absorption, copper-foil roughness, and thermal stability can affect signal loss, crosstalk, reliability, and transmission distance. Mid- and low-end materials used in conventional servers may no longer provide sufficient signal integrity for AI accelerators, high-speed switches, and advanced network interface cards. This is pushing PCB manufacturers and system vendors to adopt materials with lower transmission loss, higher heat resistance, and better dimensional stability. In other words, AI servers are not simply increasing the amount of CCL used. They are simultaneously raising material specifications, average selling prices, and qualification barriers. This helps explain why the global CCL market expanded by more than 20% in 2025. The growth was driven not only by higher shipment volumes but also by a rapid shift toward a more advanced and higher-value product mix. [ ]( https://tspasemiconductor.substack.com/p/from-ai-servers-to-high-speed-pcbs ) [ From AI Servers to High-Speed PCBs: Why CCL Prices Are Entering a New Upcycle ]( https://tspasemiconductor.substack.com/p/from-ai-servers-to-high-speed-pcbs ) SEMIVISION · May 4 [ Read full story ]( https://tspasemiconductor.substack.com/p/from-ai-servers-to-high-speed-pcbs ) Why Has EMC Overtaken Chinese and Japanese Suppliers? The ranking of major global CCL suppliers changed significantly in 2025: Below we will share: The Beneficiaries Extend Beyond EMC Glass Fiber Is Another Critical Area to Watch Three Supply-Chain Variables to WatchRead More