Dan's Biz Bookshelf: 'Apple in China: The Capture of the World’s Greatest Company'
The Chemical Connection: Experience and Wisdom Gained by Doing Business
It's Only Common Sense: Leveraging AI in Your Sales Strategy
North American PCB Industry Sales Up 59.6 Percent in December
January 27, 2025 | IPCEstimated reading time: 1 minute
IPC announced today the December 2024 findings from its North American Printed Circuit Board (PCB) Statistical Program. The book-to-bill ratio stands at 1.19.
Total North American PCB shipments in December 2024 were down 0.3 percent compared to the same month last year. Compared to the preceding month, December shipments were down 3.9 percent.
PCB bookings in December were up 59.6 percent compared to the same month last year. December bookings were up 6.2 percent compared to the preceding month.
"PCB orders jumped in December, landing in the top one percent of orders relative to shipments. This uptick is largely due to orders being pulled forward amidst ongoing tariff uncertainties,” said Shawn DuBravac, Ph.D., IPC’s chief economist.
Detailed Data Available
Companies that participate in IPC’s North American PCB Statistical Program have access to detailed findings on rigid PCB and flexible circuit sales and orders, including separate rigid and flex book-to-bill ratios, growth trends by product types and company size tiers, demand for prototypes, sales growth to military and medical markets, and other timely data.
Interpreting the Data
The book-to-bill ratios are calculated by dividing the value of orders booked over the past three months by the value of sales billed during the same period from companies in IPC’s survey sample. A ratio of more than 1.00 suggests that current demand is ahead of supply, which is a positive indicator for sales growth over the next three to twelve months. A ratio of less than 1.00 indicates the reverse.
Year-on-year and year-to-date growth rates provide the most meaningful view of industry growth. Month-to-month comparisons should be made with caution as they reflect seasonal effects and short-term volatility. Because bookings tend to be more volatile than shipments, changes in the book-to-bill ratios from month to month might not be significant unless a trend of more than three consecutive months is apparent. It is also important to consider changes in both bookings and shipments to understand what is driving changes in the book-to-bill ratio.
IPC’s monthly PCB industry statistics are based on data provided by a representative sample of both rigid PCB and flexible circuit manufacturers selling in the USA and Canada. IPC publishes the PCB book-to-bill ratio by the end of each month.
Share on:
Testimonial
"Our marketing partnership with I-Connect007 is already delivering. Just a day after our press release went live, we received a direct inquiry about our updated products!"
Rachael Temple - AlltematedSuggested Items
September 2025 SMT007 Magazine: An Eye on India
09/02/2025 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamIndia is on track to become the world’s fastest-growing major economy within the next two years, and that momentum is already reshaping its electronics manufacturing sector. Whether you work with Indian suppliers or serve Indian customers, chances are the country will become a bigger part of your supply chain in the near future.
North American PCB Industry Shipments Up 20.7% in July
08/27/2025 | Global Electronics AssociationThe Global Electronics Association announced today the July 2025 findings from its North American Printed Circuit Board (PCB) Statistical Program. The book-to-bill ratio stands at 1.00. Total North American PCB shipments in July 2025 were up 20.7% compared to the same month last year.
Eltek Ltd. Reports Strong Second-Quarter 2025 Results
08/14/2025 | PR NewswireEltek Ltd., a global manufacturer and supplier of technologically advanced solutions in the field of printed circuit boards (PCBs), today announced its financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2025.
The Shaughnessy Report: A Plan for Floor Planning
08/11/2025 | Andy Shaughnessy -- Column: The Shaughnessy ReportMost of the time, we cover topics that designers say are giving them trouble. But designers don’t usually cite floor planning as one of their bigger challenges. No, it’s the fabricators who say that floor planning is an ongoing problem for their designer brethren, usually after having to put yet another job on hold.
Nolan’s Notes: Moving Forward With Confidence
06/03/2025 | Nolan Johnson -- Column: Nolan's NotesWe’re currently enjoying a revitalized and dynamic EMS provider market with significant growth potential. Since December 2024, the book-to-bill has been extremely strong and growing. Starting with a ratio of 1.24 in December, book-to-bill has continued to accelerate to a 1.41 in April. Yet, there is a global economic restructuring taking place. To say that the back-and-forth with tariffs and trade deals makes for an uncertain market is an understatement. While we may be in a 90-day tariff pause among leading economic nations, the deadline is quickly approaching and that leaves many of you feeling unsettled about what to expect.