-
- News
- Books
Featured Books
- I-Connect007 Magazine
Latest Issues
Current Issue
Beyond the Rulebook
What happens when the rule book is no longer useful, or worse, was never written in the first place? In today’s fast-moving electronics landscape, we’re increasingly asked to design and build what has no precedent, no proven path, and no tidy checklist to follow. This is where “Design for Invention” begins.
March Madness
From the growing role of AI in design tools to the challenge of managing cumulative tolerances, these articles in this issue examine the technical details, design choices, and manufacturing considerations that determine whether a board works as intended.
Looking Forward to APEX EXPO 2026
I-Connect007 Magazine previews APEX EXPO 2026, covering everything from the show floor to the technical conference. For PCB designers, we move past the dreaded auto-router and spotlight AI design tools that actually matter.
- Articles
- Columns
- Links
- Media kit
||| MENU - I-Connect007 Magazine
North American PCB Industry Ends 2025 with Strong Book-to-Bill and Double-Digit Shipment Growth
February 2, 2026 | Global Electronics AssociationEstimated reading time: 2 minutes
The Global Electronics Association announced today the December 2025 findings from its North American Printed Circuit Board (PCB) Statistical Program. The book-to-bill ratio stands at 1.18.
Total North American PCB shipments in December 2025were up 11.0% compared to the same month last year. Compared to the preceding month, December shipments were down -12.8%. December's year-to-date (YTD) shipments increased by 12.8% year-over-year (YOY).
PCB bookings in December were up 11.0% compared to the same month last year. December bookings were down 17.7% compared to the preceding month. December’s YTD bookings increased 15.0% compared to the same period last year.
North American PCB activity for December reflects a well-balanced market showing healthy momentum. Bookings outpaced shipments for the month, which may signal emerging demand growth; however, the longer-term three-month and year-to-date metrics temper that optimism. Over those periods, shipments have grown faster than bookings, suggesting the industry is likely catching up on backlog and shipping more aggressively to meet existing demand. The growth story remains intact but sustaining it will require bookings to accelerate rather than rely solely on fulfillment of past orders.\
"The North American PCB book-to-bill strengthened again in December, due in part to softer shipments,” said Dr. Shawn DuBravac, Global Electronics Association’s chief economist. “Bookings remain solid, signaling improving order momentum headed into this year.”
Detailed Data Available
Companies that participate in the Global Electronics Association’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 the Global Electronics Association’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 12 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.
The Global Electronics Association’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. The Association publishes the PCB book-to-bill ratio by the end of each month.
Testimonial
"The I-Connect007 team is outstanding—kind, responsive, and a true marketing partner. Their design team created fresh, eye-catching ads, and their editorial support polished our content to let our brand shine. Thank you all! "
Sweeney Ng - CEE PCBSuggested Items
OKI Develops 180-Layer, 15 mm PCB for AI Semiconductor Test Equipment
04/29/2026 | BUSINESS WIREOKI Circuit Technology, the OKI Group’s printed circuit board (PCB) business company, has successfully developed design and production technologies for 180-layer, 15 mm-thick PCBs intended for use in wafer testing equipment for high bandwidth memory (HBM) mounted on AI semiconductors.
Rogers Reports Q1 2026 Results; Sales Up 5.2% YoY
04/29/2026 | BUSINESS WIRENet sales of $200.5 million increased 5.2%, or $10.0 million, versus the first quarter of 2025, inclusive of a $7.9 million foreign currency benefit due to the appreciation of the euro and Chinese yuan relative to the U.S. dollar.
Amphenol Reports Record Q1 2026 Results
04/29/2026 | BUSINESS WIREThe Company continues to deploy its financial strength in a variety of ways to increase shareholder value. During the first quarter, the Company purchased 1.3 million shares of its common stock for $178 million and paid dividends of $307 million, resulting in total capital returned to shareholders of nearly $485 million.
AI Reshaping the Memory Market; Effects Spreading Across Industries
04/29/2026 | Dr. Shawn DuBravac, Global Electronics AssociationArtificial Intelligence is often framed as a software story focused on algorithms and models. But beneath that narrative lies a more fundamental shift rooted in hardware. AI is not just changing what technology can do; it’s changing how the physical components behind it are produced, allocated, and priced. One of the clearest examples of this shift is now emerging in the global memory market.
Ventec Evaluates US Manufacturing Facility to Support North American Growth
04/28/2026 | Ventec International GroupVentec International Group today announced that it is evaluating the potential establishment of a manufacturing facility in the United States to support its growing North American customer base with high-performance laminate and prepreg materials.