an increased demand for RAM and other parts is already impacting the industry as a whole. Nonetheless, RAM is not the sole component that producers are having difficulty sourcing; a significant Japanese firm responsible for a glass cloth fiber used in iPhone models and various other popular devices is struggling to meet the requirements of Apple, Qualcomm, Nvidia, Google, Amazon, and others.
This glass cloth is composed of fine glass fibers that strengthen layers in printed circuit boards (PCBs), with the most common fibers being produced by Japan’s Nitto Boseki (also known as Nittobo). As reported by Nikkei Asia, Apple was an early user of Nittobo’s glass cloth. However, with AI companies demanding vast quantities of high-performance PCBs, this particular glass cloth has allegedly placed Apple in jeopardy of experiencing a supply deficit.
Nikkei Asia notes that industry insiders are labeling this pressure as “one of the major bottlenecks for the electronics production and AI sector for 2026.” Apple has been closely observing the development by not only dispatching its personnel to Japan to secure the material but also contacting other firms that could assist the company in avoiding potential launch delays, product deficits, or price increases.
