In early July, several major companies including Shandong Jinbao, Jianye, Mingkang, Weilibang, and Jinan Guoji announced price hikes on products like copper foil and copper-clad laminates. Copper foil saw an increase of around 1,000 to 2,000 yuan per ton, while cardboard experienced a 10% hike. Insulating glass fiber CCLs were raised by 5 yuan per sheet, and sheets by the same amount.
Recently, PCB companies such as Fujian Mulinsen Lighting, Dongcheng Hongye, Morgan Electronics, and Haile Electronics also issued price increase notices, with most hikes hovering around 10%. The rising costs of raw materials, labor, and chemicals are cited as key reasons behind these price adjustments. However, the underlying factor is the shift in supply and demand dynamics. The increasing popularity and replacement of electronic products have boosted demand in the terminal market. The growing small-span LED segment has driven the need for multilayer PCBs.
Certain LED components, like PCB boards and boxes, produce significant pollution during manufacturing, which doesn't comply with national environmental standards. This has led to necessary upgrades and corrections, indirectly raising the cost of these components. The stealthy price hikes started last year, with the government's supply-side reforms aiming to enhance industrial profitability. This indicates that price increases are here to stay, posing challenges for end consumers.
There could also be price hikes for driver ICs, given the current tight supply of wafers. Market demand remains strong, putting pressure on both orders and raw material costs. With the rise of touch devices and artificial intelligence, the demand for wafers is expected to grow further. Producing new equipment takes months to deliver, and constructing new facilities takes 3-5 years before they start operations. Expanding production won’t solve the immediate supply gap.
Insiders predict that the supply-demand imbalance will persist until next year, meaning price hikes will likely continue in the short term.
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**Osram Acquires Stake in Laser Radar Company**
OSRAM announced a strategic move by acquiring a 25.1% stake in Canadian laser radar company LeddarTech, strengthening its position in autonomous driving solutions. Founded in 2007 in Quebec, LeddarTech brings advanced technology that complements OSRAM’s semiconductor offerings. OSRAM had previously invested tens of millions of euros in LeddarTech.
LeddarTech’s patented laser radar tech is now integrated into semiconductor and sensor modules for autonomous vehicles and driver assistance systems. Stefan Kampmann, CTO of OSRAM Lighting, stated, “This investment is crucial for OSRAM to maintain its leading role in this field.â€
LeddarTech CEO Charles Boulanger expressed excitement over the partnership, noting their shared vision and commitment to setting benchmarks in automotive solid-state laser radar technology.
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**Jingdong’s “DingDong†Joins Philips’ Smart Home Ecosystem**
Philips Lighting has partnered with Jingdong’s smart speaker, “DingDong,†making it a “Friend of Hue†partner. This collaboration integrates Chinese voice control expertise and smart home hardware to enhance user experience. Starting in June 2017, DingDong users can now control Philips Hue lights via voice commands within their app.
Bill Bien, Global Strategy and Marketing Officer at Philips Lighting, emphasized the booming potential of China’s smart home market. The partnership aims to expand smart home applications and offer users more efficient control options.
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**LED Filament Lamps Gain Traction Along the Belt and Road**
Domestic LED filament lamp manufacturers are finding success abroad, where margins are higher and markets are larger. Exports to Europe and the U.S. accounted for 89% of China’s LED filament lamp exports in Q1-Q2 2017, growing by 449% year-over-year. Countries along the Belt and Road initiative saw exports totaling $1.75 million, representing a 540% year-over-year increase.
With the Belt and Road initiative gaining momentum, exports to沿线 countries are expected to rise significantly. GGII predicts strong sales across Europe, the U.S., and Belt and Road regions in 2017.
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**Interactive LED Panels Hit the Market**
Los Angeles-based Acclaim Lighting launched its React Panel, an interactive touch LED panel designed for surface lighting applications. The panel offers customizable settings, including touch-responsive backgrounds and response speeds. Its 7.87-inch square design features 25 pixels per panel, consuming just 12 watts of power. Easy installation is facilitated with 3M tape.
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**Guoxing Optoelectronics Reports Strong Growth**
Guoxing Optoelectronics reported a 51.45% year-over-year increase in revenue and a 62.44% rise in net profit for H1 2017. Under leadership, the company has focused on its "three-pronged" strategy of high-tech innovation, market globalization, and production scaling. Upstream, midstream, and downstream integration has yielded impressive results. The RGB packaging business leads the domestic market, while white light packaging and chip LED businesses are growing. Component and lighting divisions are also performing well, bolstering the company's leadership position in the industry.
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