Marcy’s Musings: The Relentless Pursuit of Perfection
Dan’s Biz Bookshelf: ‘Do/Start'
Facing the Future: The Role of 5G and Beyond in Shaping PCB Demand
Chinese Review: The 2018 NTI-100 Top Global PCB Fabricators
October 28, 2019 | Yonglin Gong, CPCAEstimated reading time: 1 minute
NTI released the list of the world’s top PCB manufacturers in 2018, and this information is of great interest to the industry to determine what is going on in the industry and analyze the global situation. In the early days of this project, the list concentrated on the top 100 companies, so it continues to be called NTI-100 for short. Now, it is compiled into Chinese. I will examine the currency exchange rate, company rankings, global distribution of the top-ranked companies, global total PCB output, and the automotive sector.
Currency Exchange Rate
PCBs are produced all over the world, and the currencies are different from country to country. Therefore, the output value is calculated in U.S. dollars so as to unify and normalize the data. For reference, the exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and other currencies is shown in Table 1.Top Company Rankings
In 2018, the overall PCB market was not as prosperous as in 2017, but it still remained in good status. The ranking of the world’s top PCB manufacturers in 2018 didn’t change a lot when compared with 2017. The obvious change is the decline of Japanese companies. Nippon Mektron, which once ranked No. 1, dropped to No. 2 in 2017; in 2018, it fell further to No. 3. ZD Tech (Taiwan) and TTM (USA) now lead the list, respectively. In 2017, five companies among the top 10 were Japanese companies, while in 2018, only four Japanese companies still remained, and their rankings had fallen as well. Meanwhile, PCB companies in Mainland China show the largest growth, holding three seats of the top 20. One Chinese company, Mflex, has broken into the top 10.
To continue reading the full article (with tables that contain supporting information) click here or download the PDF of the October 2019 issue of PCB007 Magazine.
Share on:
Suggested Items
Foxconn Joins Global Patent Alliance LOT Network to Strengthen Intellectual Property Protection
05/15/2025 | FoxconnHon Hai Technology Group , the world’s largest technology manufacturing platform service company, announced that it has officially joined the LOT Network ( License on Transfer, LOT ), a global patent licensing platform and non-profit community dedicated to protecting companies from Patent Assertion Entities (PAEs ) lawsuits.
Global Sourcing Spotlight: Tariffs—The New Reality
05/14/2025 | Bob Duke -- Column: Global Sourcing SpotlightNavigating the complexities of international trade has become increasingly challenging following the imposition of tariffs by the Trump administration on imports from countries including China, Mexico, and Canada. These tariffs—ranging from 10–25% and higher—have major implications for businesses engaged in global sourcing.
Facing the Future: The Role of 5G and Beyond in Shaping PCB Demand
05/13/2025 | Prashant Patel -- Column: Facing the FutureInnovations that push the boundaries of connectivity shape the future of technology, processing power, and miniaturization. 5G and emerging 6G technologies are critical in transforming industries from telecommunications and healthcare to autonomous systems. This affects the printed circuit board (PCB) industry, where demand for high-performance, miniaturized, and advanced PCBs is surging. This column explores the key applications of 5G and beyond, the challenges in designing high-frequency PCBs, the effects of miniaturization, industry collaborations, and opportunities for North American companies in this space.
DENSO, ROHM Reach Basic Agreement to Establish a Strategic Partnership in the Semiconductor
05/12/2025 | DENSODENSO CORPORATION and ROHM Co., Ltd. are pleased to announce that the two companies have reached a basic agreement to establish a strategic partnership in the semiconductor field. This agreement follows discussions and considerations that began in September 2024.
AEye, LITEON Confirm Production of First Apollo Units from New Manufacturing Line
05/12/2025 | BUSINESS WIREAEye, Inc., a global leader in adaptive, high-performance lidar solutions, announced it has successfully produced the first Apollo lidar sensors from the LITEON manufacturing line in Taipei, Taiwan.