The Global Electronics Association announced today the August 2025 findings from its North American Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) Statistical Program. The book-to-bill ratio stands at 1.26.

Total North American EMS shipments in August 2025 were down 1.4% compared to the same month last year, yet compared to the preceding month, August shipments were up 3.6%. August’s year-to-date (YTD) shipments decreased by 0.7% year-over-year (YOY).

EMS bookings in August decreased 4.3% year-over-year and increased 5.6% from the previous month. August’s YTD bookings increased by 1.2% compared to the same period last year.

“The EMS sector is seeing solid momentum as both supply and customer inventories continue to normalize,” said Dr. Shawn DuBravac, chief economist, Global Electronics Association. “This shift puts the industry on steadier ground and positions it well for the next phase of growth.”

EMS bookings point to a strong demand environment. The latest month shows an even tighter market, with bookings outpacing shipments, suggesting accelerating momentum and high near-term capacity utilization. Shipment volumes are trending higher on a rolling basis, reflecting gradual supply-side normalization as manufacturers convert backlog into delivered product. Orders softened on a three-month view, likely a timing effect after earlier strength, and the elevated one-month book-to-bill indicates this pullback is transitory rather than structural. Output remains slightly below last year’s pace, so the recovery is not yet complete, but as supply chains stabilize and labor availability improves, shipments should continue to converge with demand. Year to date, orders are modestly ahead of last year, signaling resilient end-market demand, and positive YTD bookings alongside sub-par shipments imply backlog support for production in the coming quarters.

Detailed Data Available

Companies that participate in the Global Electronics Association’s North American EMS Statistical Program have access to detailed findings on EMS sales growth by type of production and company size tier, order growth and backlogs by company size tier, vertical market growth, the EMS book-to-bill ratio, 3-month and 12-month sales outlooks, 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 EMS industry statistics are based on data provided by a representative sample of assembly equipment manufacturers selling in the USA and Canada.

The Global Electronics Association announced today the August 2025 findings from its North American Printed Circuit Board (PCB) Statistical Program. The book-to-bill ratio stands at 0.98.

Total North American PCB shipments in August 2025were up 12.8% compared to the same month last year and up 3.3% from July. August's year-to-date (YTD) shipments increased by 8.3% year-over-year (YOY).

PCB bookings in August were down 4.1% compared to the same month last year and were down 5.2% compared to July. August’s YTD bookings increased 14.5% compared to the same period last year.

"The North American PCB sector is showing some near-term softness, with bookings trailing shipments, but the broader trajectory remains positive,” said Dr. Shawn DuBravac, chief economist, Global Electronics Association. “While short-term book-to-bill ratios point to a cooling phase, the underlying fundamentals remain constructive for the quarters ahead.”

North American PCB indicators point to near-term softness against a stronger year-to-date backdrop. The three-month book-to-bill at 0.98 and the 1-month at 0.88 show bookings trailing shipments, which implies easing capacity utilization and limited near-term upside. Rolling trends confirm the pause, with shipments down 1.9% and bookings down 3.6% on a 3-month moving-average basis. Even so, the year-to-date picture remains solid, with shipments up 8.3% and bookings up 14.5%, indicating demand is still running ahead of last year and backlog support persists. Netting these signals, the sector is digesting recent strength in the short run, while underlying demand remains constructive for the coming quarters.

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 2025 IPC CEMAC Electronics Manufacturing Annual Conference, co-hosted by the Global Electronics Association and the Shanghai Pudong Association for Quality and Technology, successfully concluded on September 26 in Shanghai.

The two-day event brought together more than 400 companies and 600 industry representatives from across China and around the world. Centered on the theme “Shaping a Sustainable Future,” the conference highlighted major industry achievements, unveiled new initiatives, and fostered in-depth discussions on the future of global electronics manufacturing.

Conference highlights:

• Upcoming New Standard – IPC-6921, Requirements and Acceptance for Organic Substrates for Packaging Applications, scheduled for release by the end of 2025.
• Intelligent Manufacturing Demonstration Projects – Presenting best practices in digital transformation standards and solutions.
• Electronics Industry ESG Cooperation Initiative – Officially launched, along with a survey report identifying the top ESG issues and challenges facing electronics enterprises.
• Industry Recognition and Awards – Leading companies and industry experts honored for their outstanding contributions.

Voices from the Conference

Sydney Xiao, president of Global Electronics Association East Asia, remarked, “We sincerely thank all our partners for their active participation and strong support. CEMAC is not only an annual conference but also an open and collaborative platform where ideas are shared, achievements are showcased, and partnerships are forged.”

In his closing address, Dr. John W. Mitchell, president and CEO of the Global Electronics Association, emphasized, “Innovation drives our industry, and resilience safeguards our future. Through collaboration, we will continue to lead the electronics industry toward a smarter, more connected, and more sustainable future.”

Outlook

The 2025 IPC CEMAC showcased the latest progress in standards, technology, talent, and supply chain resilience, while injecting fresh momentum into global collaboration. The outcomes of the conference are expected to accelerate the high-quality development of China’s electronics sector and contribute to the sustainable growth of the worldwide electronics industry.

The Wiring Harness Manufacturer’s Association (WHMA), a council of the Global Electronics Association, today announced the results of an industry survey, revealing the need for systems to catch and collect errors to ensure design quality and automation to create efficiencies and reduce risk. 

Cable and wire harness protect the collection of wires and cables in vehicles and other complex systems to ensure the safe and efficient transmission of electricity. A global industry, estimates value the market at $99.59 billion in 2024 and it is projected to reach $147 billion by 2034[1]. 

Conducted by WHMA’s newly formed Innovation Advisory Team (IAT), the survey demonstrates the most pressing challenges and opportunities shaping the industry’s future. The IAT, co-chaired by Arik Vrobel, CEO of Cableteque, and George Jacob, Director of Etron Systems, brings together leading voices from MBDA-Systems, LCMO, RocketlabUSA, Rivian, KomaxGroup, Protronics, ECI International, Motherson and Qualtronics. They will use these survey insights to guide actionable strategies, foster industry-wide collaboration, and support members as they adapt to evolving demands.

Top five priorities identified 

1. Design Quality and Customer Error Management
   Validating customer designs before manufacturing was ranked the highest innovation priority (52.4%), reflecting the need for systems to catch and correct errors early. 76% of respondents report encountering customer design errors “sometimes” or “often.” 

2. Process Speed and Automation
   Nearly 74% describe their quoting process as “manual, time-intensive, and too slow.” Respondents rated automated bill of materials enhancement (4.50/5) and faster quoting tools as critical, underscoring the role of speed-to-quote as a competitive advantage.

3. Knowledge Capture and Standardization
   Over 57% of organizations rely on tribal knowledge for quoting, while 50% face challenges with incomplete or inaccurate customer information. Respondents emphasized the need for better documentation and standardized processes to reduce risk and improve consistency.

4. Digital Tool Integration and Modernization
   While more than 75% expressed interest in adopting digital platforms, barriers include cost (64.3%) and system compatibility (57.1%). With 47.6% still relying on basic Excel or Word-based tools, the data points to significant opportunities for digital transformation.

5. Workforce Development and Training
   Skills gaps hinder technology adoption for 45.2% of respondents. More than half (51.2%) said they need access to training programs, and 64.3% expressed interest in WHMA-backed standardized tools, highlighting the importance of workforce development and certification.

“These results clearly reflect an industry in transition, moving away from traditional, manual approaches toward digitization, standardization, and workforce development,” said Arik Vrobel, IAT Co-Chair and CEO of Cableteque. “By focusing on these priorities, WHMA and our members can help shape a more efficient, innovative, and resilient wire harness industry.”

WHMA is looking for industry subject matter experts that can help drive positive change to solve the challenges identified in the survey results.  Companies interested in participating can email WHMA Executive Director David Bergman at DavidBergman@electronics.org.