In recent days, the electronics manufacturing industry has been hit by a surge in prices, especially for imported connector products represented by Amphenol CS (Amphenol High-Speed Interconnect Systems), with some models experiencing price increases of over 15%-30% in a short period of time, putting further pressure on the already tight BOM costs. This change has sparked widespread industry concern: amidst the continuous expansion of price uncertainty, can domestic connectors withstand the pressure? Can they become a real alternative solution?
One, the industrial logic behind Amphenol CS price increaseAs an important sub-brand under the Amphenol Group focusing on high-speed interconnects, the Amphenol CS products are widely used in high-reliability scenarios such as data centers, server motherboards, communication equipment, industrial control, and network infrastructure. Its board-to-board, backplane connectors, and edge connectors, among other categories, are preferred by many mid-to-high-end projects for their excellent signal integrity and mechanical performance.
But under the fluctuating international environment in the past two years, the price increase of imported connectors has been significant, mainly driven by the following factors:
● Raw material prices are rising (such as the continuous increase in the prices of copper, gold, and plastic engineering materials)
● Overseas manufacturing and transportation costs soaring
Some key models are in short supply, limited by the shift in production capacity
Brand premiumization intensifies, market concentration is high, and bargaining space is small.
These factors make the price fluctuations of high-end brands like Amphenol CS particularly obvious, bringing considerable pressure to domestic end customers and assemblers.
Domestic connectors are facing both opportunities and challenges.Faced with the rising prices of imported connectors, many companies have started to actively seek domestic substitute solutions. So, can domestic connectors withstand the pressure?
We conducted a comparative analysis from the following aspects:
From practical tests, it is shown that current domestic connectors have achieved a high degree of substitutability in key performance dimensions such as 25Gbps high-speed transmission, structural accuracy, and lifespan testing. Especially in the mid-to-high-end applications of servers, industrial control, and communication, most projects have already been able to achieve stable replacement.
But at the same time, domestic brands are also under great pressure:
●Market brand trust still requires time to accumulate
High-precision molds, terminal plating and other processes still need to be continuously optimized.
● Certain extreme scenarios such as military, aviation, and other fields still mainly use original equipment
Which should I choose, domestic or original?This is not a simple "cost choice" for buyers or whole-machine manufacturers; rather, it is a comprehensive balance of supply chain safety, product stability, and customer experience.
When can we firmly choose domestic products?
●Massive delivery/cost control is the top priority
Application scenarios: mid-range/standard industrial grade/controllable working conditions
●The supply chain needs to be responsive and support customization
⚠️ When is it necessary to retain the original packaging?
●The product is required for use in high-tech fields such as aviation, medical, and high-frequency radar.
●Customer explicitly requires import brand certification model
● Certification cycle or after-sales service products cannot be replaced
With the continuous rise in international connector prices, domestic connectors not only "can hold up" but have also welcomed a strategic window period of rapid growth. For most general industrial and communication products, the advantages of domestic brands in terms of price, supply, and customized services have become very obvious. Enterprises that can accurately select types based on project requirements will have the potential to control costs while maintaining product quality stability, achieving a win-win situation.
If you are interested in or have a procurement need for the domestic alternative products of this brand connector, or if you have production or sales channels for such products and wish to engage in in-depth cooperation or communication, please contact via the following contact information:
Manager Zhang (18665383950, same WeChat number)Contact us, we look forward to working together with more industry partners.
