• Chinese materials conglomerate Gentao Group raised prices by 10% across all products — including boards, PP, and copper foil processing fees — effective March 10, citing a surge in chemical raw material costs (epoxy resin, natural gas, etc.) driven by Middle East instability, as well as persistently elevated copper prices. Following consecutive price hikes around the Lunar New Year period, the move reflects broad-based cost increases across the supply chain rather than any single raw material issue. • After last year's H2 increases, which were concentrated in high-spec products, the pace of price appreciation is expected to be steeper this year for low-end items that had a lower price base. With upstream material cost inflation compounding labor cost pressures, this pricing trend is likely to persist into next year. • The primary beneficiaries are expected to be Taiwan's three major CCL makers with strong pricing power and competitive product offerings — Dalian (大光電子), Taiyo, and Lianmao — as well as high-value-added copper foil producer Jinjue. Server demand remains robust and a trickle-down effect is anticipated, though resolution of raw material supply constraints will be a prerequisite for translating demand strength into actual earnings improvement. (Taiwan Industrial & Commercial Times)