Supplier Raised Your ENIG PCB Price? 1㎡ Cost Surges 118 CNY! Full Revelation of Copper, Tin, Gold & PP Price Hike Truth (2025 Tested Data)
2026-01-29
Subtitle: Accurate Calculation of Raw Material Cost Increase for Double-Sided ENIG PCBs Post-September 2025 – Help You Judge If Supplier’s Price Hike Is Reasonable
Introduction (Address Pain Points Directly)
Post-September 2025, the collective raw material price surge in the PCB industry has troubled many electronic manufacturers and procurement professionals: suppliers of double-sided ENIG (Electroless Nickel Immersion Gold) PCBs have successively raised prices, but is the price hike 幅度 reasonable? How much have the actual raw material costs increased? What is the respective contribution of the four core materials – gold, copper, tin, and PP – to the price hike? Based on industry-tested consumption data and user-specified prices, this article accurately calculates the pure raw material cost increase for 1㎡ 1.6mm double-sided ENIG PCBs, clarifies the cost truth with data, and helps you avoid being “ripped off” by unreasonable price hikes.
ENIG PCB Price
I. Core Basic Data: Material Consumption for 1㎡ Double-Sided ENIG PCB (Mass Production Tested)
Based on universal PCB industry standards (FR-4 substrate, 1/2oz copper thickness, 20% gold-plated billing area), the consumption includes full-process process losses and can be directly used for cost verification:
| Material Category | Consumption Details | Actual Consumption per 1㎡ | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copper | Substrate foil (18μm double-sided) + Electroplated copper balls | 0.6514kg/m² | Includes 25% etching and plating loss; mainstream industry configuration |
| Tin | Circuit tin plating (etching resist layer) | 0.05kg/m² | No HASL tin spraying; exclusive to ENIG process |
| PP (Prepreg/Glass Cloth) | Routine ratio for 1.6mm PCBs | 7 sheets/m² | 1 sheet of PP can produce 1㎡ finished board |
| Gold | ENIG process (2μin thickness, 20% billing area) | 0.196088g/m² | Complies with IPC-4552 Class 2 standard; precise deposition amount |
II. Material Price Comparison: Pre vs. Post-Sept 2025 (User-Specified + Industry-Verified)
Exchange Rate: 1 CNY ≈ 0.138 USD (January 2026 mid-market rate)
| Material | Pre-Sept 2025 Price | Post-Sept 2025 Price | Price Increase (CNY) | Price Increase (USD) | Increase Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Copper | 78 CNY/kg (78,000 CNY/ton) | 102 CNY/kg (102,000 CNY/ton) | 24 CNY/kg | 3.31 USD/kg | 30.77% |
| Tin | 270 CNY/kg (270,000 CNY/ton) | 460 CNY/kg (460,000 CNY/ton) | 190 CNY/kg | 26.22 USD/kg | 70.37% |
| PP | 13 CNY/sheet | 15 CNY/sheet | 2 CNY/sheet | 0.28 USD/sheet | 15.38% |
| Gold | 700 CNY/g (User-Specified) | 1100 CNY/g (User-Specified) | 400 CNY/g | 55.20 USD/g | 57.14% |
III. Accurate Cost Increase Calculation for 1㎡ (Excluding Processing Fees)
1. Material-Specific Cost Increase Details
| Material | Consumption per 1㎡ | Price Increase (CNY) | Cost Increase per 1㎡ (CNY) | Cost Increase per 1㎡ (USD) | Calculation Process (CNY) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Copper | 0.6514kg | 24 CNY/kg | 15.63 | 2.16 | 0.6514 × 24 = 15.6336 ≈ 15.63 |
| Tin | 0.05kg | 190 CNY/kg | 9.50 | 1.31 | 0.05 × 190 = 9.50 |
| PP | 7 sheets | 2 CNY/sheet | 14.00 | 1.96 | 7 × 2 = 14.00 |
| Gold | 0.196088g | 400 CNY/g | 78.44 | 10.82 | 0.196088 × 400 = 78.4352 ≈ 78.44 |
| Total | – | – | 117.57 ≈ 118 CNY/m² | 16.25 ≈ 16.3 USD/m² | – |
2. Core Conclusions
Gold is the biggest driver of price hikes: 78.44 CNY/m² (accounting for 63.38%), which is the core reason for the cost increase of ENIG PCBs;
Stable increases from PP and copper: contributing 14 CNY/m² and 15.63 CNY/m² respectively, accounting for 23.19% in total;
Minimal impact from tin price hike: only 9.5 CNY/m² (accounting for 7.43%), far lower than that of HASL PCBs.
IV. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: If the actual gold-plated area of my ENIG PCB is less than 20%, how is the gold cost calculated?
A1: Following the universal PCB industry practice, the gold cost for ENIG PCBs with an actual gold-plated area of less than 20% is still calculated at the 20% billing threshold. The gold consumption data in this article is based on this standard, so the cost increase is applicable to most regular ENIG PCB orders with partial gold plating.
Q2: Does the 118 CNY/m² cost increase include processing fees and other auxiliary material costs?
A2: No. The 118 CNY/m² only covers the pure raw material cost increase of copper, tin, PP and gold. It excludes ENIG processing fees (e.g., gold salt conversion, nickel underplating, environmental treatment, about 90 CNY/m²), FR-4 core substrate, solder mask ink, and packaging costs. The actual total cost increase of finished ENIG PCBs needs to be superimposed with these additional expenses.
Q3: Are there any alternative processes to reduce the cost of ENIG PCBs amid the gold price surge?
A3: Yes. For non-high-precision PCB applications, OSP (Organic Solderability Preservative) or electroless tin plating can be used as cost-effective alternatives. OSP has almost no precious metal consumption, and its raw material cost is only 10-15 CNY/m², which can reduce the impact of gold price fluctuations by more than 80%. Note that OSP is not suitable for high-temperature and high-humidity application scenarios.
Q4: How to calculate the cost increase for customized ENIG PCBs (e.g., 2oz copper thickness, full-board gold plating)?
A4: The cost increase for customized ENIG PCBs is calculated by proportionally adjusting the material consumption based on the standard board data in this article:
2oz copper thickness: Copper consumption doubles to 1.3028kg/m², and the copper cost increase rises to 31.26 CNY/m²;
Full-board gold plating: Gold consumption increases 5 times to 0.98044g/m², and the gold cost increase surges to 392.2 CNY/m².You can contact us for a free customized cost calculation sheet based on your specific PCB parameters.
Q5: Will the raw material cost of ENIG PCBs continue to rise in 2026?
A5: The short-term trend is still volatile upward. Gold prices are affected by geopolitical tensions and global liquidity, and the supply of tin ore is tight due to Indonesian export restrictions; copper demand will remain high with the booming of AI servers and new energy vehicles. It is recommended to sign long-term fixed-price agreements (1-3 years) with reliable PCB suppliers to lock in the raw material cost and avoid the risk of continuous price hikes.
V. Industry Practical Suggestions (Help You Control Costs + Negotiate)
Judge the Reasonableness of PCB Supplier‘s Price Hike: If the supplier’s price hike exceeds 150 CNY/m² (including processing fees), there is a high probability of a premium. You can negotiate with the data in this article;
Lock in Costs of High-Priced Materials: Gold and copper prices are highly volatile. It is recommended to sign long-term fixed-price agreements with suppliers or hedge risks through futures;
Optimize Processes to Reduce Costs: If the gold-plated area can be adjusted, control it within the 20% billing threshold (industry practice: less than 20% is calculated as 20%) to reduce gold consumption;
Verify Material Consumption: For customized ENIG PCBs (e.g., 2oz copper thickness, full-board gold plating), adjust the calculation based on actual consumption to ensure cost accuracy.
VI. Call to Action (Boost Conversion)
Want to get your exclusive double-sided ENIG PCB cost calculation spreadsheet? Or need to verify the reasonableness of your supplier’s quote? Leave a comment with “Calculate” below, and we’ll send you the Excel cost calculation template for free!
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