In the first quarter of 2026, the connector industry experienced robust growth. According to industry data, the sales sentiment index for the electronic components sector climbed to 149.2, reaching a five-year high not seen since April 2021, with the electromechanical components category—which includes connectors—leading the growth. Demand for AI computing power emerged as the primary growth driver, with demand for related high-speed connectors doubling year-over-year.
Driven by the large-scale deployment of AI server clusters, high-end products such as high-speed backplane connectors and high-speed I/O connectors are in short supply. AI servers require 3 to 5 times more connectors than traditional servers, and transmission speed requirements are rapidly evolving from the traditional 56 Gbps to 112 Gbps and even 224 Gbps. Meanwhile, demand in the new energy vehicle sector remains resilient, with the widespread adoption of 800V high-voltage platforms driving a significant increase in the value of high-voltage connectors per vehicle. However, this surge in demand has also led to supply chain tensions. As of the end of April 2026, more than 50 global electronic component manufacturers had issued price increase notices, with price hikes for products such as connectors ranging from 5% to 85%, and lead times for high-end products generally exceeding 11 weeks. Industry insiders point out that, driven by the dual engines of AI and new energy, the connector industry is shifting from “cost competition” to a comprehensive contest involving “technology, manufacturing, and application scenarios.”
