Despite a drop in shipments, North American PCB bookings rise, showing steady demand. The book-to-bill ratio remains positive, suggesting growth potential ahead.
North American printed-circuit board (PCB) shipments dropped 8.6% in June 2025 compared to the same period last year, according to the Global Electronics Association (GEA), previously known as IPC. Despite this, bookings rose 4.9%, indicating steady demand, though monthly fluctuations remain.
The industry’s book-to-bill ratio stood at 1.06 in June, after peaking at 1.33 in March 2025. This implies that demand outpaced supply, a positive sign for future growth. While the ratio decreased from earlier highs, it stayed above the key 1.00 threshold.
Shipments fell 19.2% compared to May 2025, but YTD (year-to-date) shipments grew 5.3% year-over-year. Bookings also dipped 2.1% from May, but YTD bookings rose 16.2% from 2024.
Shawn DuBravac, IPC’s chief economist, noted, “June’s data reflects resilience in North American PCB production. Demand remains stable, with strong rigid PCB bookings driving positive momentum despite weaker flexible bookings.”
Growth trends show that PCB bookings fluctuated, surging in mid-2024 by 42.6% and early 2025 by 58.4%, but stabilising by June. Shipments, however, continued to decline, showing negative growth after April 2025.
Overall, while June’s results reflect short-term volatility, the YTD performance suggests a steady trajectory for the PCB industry. The GEA’s data, based on a representative sample of manufacturers in the USA and Canada, provides valuable insights for market analysis and planning.
What were the trends in May? North American PCB Industry Stabilises In May, Shipments Grow 21.4%
