AI has already increased the cost of RAM and SSDs, driving up prices for most consumer electronics, including smartphones, laptops, gaming consoles, and PCs. Instead of getting a reprieve, consumers might see another price hike, thanks to the conflict in the Middle East.
As reported by Reuters, the ongoing Iran war has disrupted supplies of a critical raw material used in printed circuit boards (PCBs), the backbone of almost every electronic device you own, from your iPhone to AI servers.
Sergei Starostin / PexelsThe trouble started in early April when Iran struck Saudi Arabia’s Jubail petrochemical complex, halting production of high-purity PPE resin, a key ingredient used in the manufacture of PCB laminates.
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SABIC, which produces around 70% of the world’s supply of this material and operates out of the Jubail complex, has been unable to resume production.
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