Impressions from THECA 2024

Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

In American pop culture, we often see depictions of a youth athletic team—eight-year-old boys suited up to play American football or girls in soccer gear—and one of the kids shouts, “We may be small,” while the rest of the team answers, “but we are mighty.”

That was the same feeling I had during the inaugural Thailand Electronic Circuits Asia trade show in Bangkok last week. While Thailand's percentage of global production is relatively small, its rate of growth is still quite dramatic. With approximately 20 fabrication facilities planned or under construction, Thailand’s contribution is set to change.

Where are these fabs coming from? Some are Thai-based companies, but most are Chinese-backed facilities responding to the China Plus One strategies being implemented around the globe.

What does seem to be emerging here in Southeast Asia (and the trend is easier to see when one is physically here in the region) is a multi-national supply chain in which regional countries tend to specialize in one portion of the overall process. Semiconductors in Taiwan and Malaysia, PCBs in China and Thailand (to a lesser extent), with assembly in Vietnam. A mix of both specialization and resiliency seems to be developing in response to what we all learned from COVID-triggered supply chain breakdowns.

Less obvious, but even more insightful (in my opinion), is the news that Chinese capital equipment manufacturers are opening Thai facilities as well. Upstream supply chain vendors are following their customers into new overseas markets; the expectation that there will be even more supply chain growth in Thailand is unspoken, but obvious.

It's in this wider environment that the THECA show has launched. The show was very well attended. Exhibitor booth space was sold out. Thailand Printed Circuit Association (THPCA) and Hong Kong Printed Circuit Association (HKPCA), co-organizers for the event, have set a goal to double the size of the show for 2025. THECA kept it small and manageable to get things started, and the event came off without any obvious missteps.

While getting to Thailand is a story in itself, the real story here is what’s happening in this part of the world. While at THECA, our I-Connect007 team captured 16 onsite interviews and gathered photos from the show floor, which can be viewed at realtimewith.com. The interviews showcase the type of companies finding a home in Southeast Asia, the products and services they are providing, and what it means for supply chains everywhere else.