Today, the Global Electronics Association – the voice of the electronics industry – launched its Circularity Resource Hub. The Hub provides a centralized home for the latest industry standards, best practices, and resources to accelerate electronics’ sustainable and circular evolution. 

Mounting pressure for circularity in electronics is shaping the industry’s next era of innovation. Circularity enables compliance with global regulations like Right to Repair and Ecodesign while improving companies’ bottom lines and supply chain resilience. 

Designed for use across the electronics industry, the Circularity Resource Hub curates unified, actionable strategies to scale circularity for engineers, manufacturers, suppliers, and decision-makers, providing sustainable solutions that lower material and operational costs to directly improve bottom lines.The Hub is the latest resource to come from Evolve, an initiative from the Global Electronics Association (formerly IPC) supporting industry sustainability efforts. 

Key resources in the Hub include:

• In-depth guidance on how to design and embed circularity throughout every process of the electronics life cycle

• Practical tools and frameworks to support implementation

• A comprehensive guide for implementing practices to reduce e-waste

• Industry standards that enable repairability and rework, circularity, and more

Content will be updated continually to provide resources that address the challenges manufacturers face in adopting circular practices.

In tandem with the Circularity Resource Hub, the Global Electronics Association unveiled a new report, Circularity for Electronics: Proceedings Report that captures industry stakeholder insights and zeroes in on key challenges, opportunities, and solutions.  

“As demand for electronics continues to grow, so too does our responsibility to design and manage products more sustainably. Circularity is about more than reducing waste, it’s about unlocking efficiency, innovation, and resilience across the entire industry,” said Dr. John W. Mitchell, Global Electronics Association president and CEO. “We see that circularity is essential for sustainability and for the long-term competitiveness and growth of our industry.” 

“Faced with sourcing uncertainty and pricing volatility, the electronics ecosystem has an opportunity to embrace circularity to reduce risk – and minimize its life cycle impacts in the process,” said Dr. Kelly Scanlon, Global Electronics Association lead sustainability strategist. “By centralizing best-in-class resources, we support the industry’s sustainable transformation.”  

Visit the Circularity Resource Hub now at electronics.org/evolve/circularity

to explore how your organization can lead, comply, and thrive in the circular economy, even in uncertain times. 

IPC announced today the May 2025 findings from its North American Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) Statistical Program. The book-to-bill ratio stands at 1.43.

Total North American EMS shipments in May 2025 were down 9.3 percent compared to the same month last year. Compared to the preceding month, May shipments were down 4.2 percent. May’s year-to-date (YTD) shipments decreased by 2.3% year-over-year (YOY).

EMS bookings in May increased 5.0 percent year-over-year and decreased 6.0 percent from the previous month. May’s YTD bookings increased by 1.4% compared to the same period last year.

“North American EMS bookings showed modest year-over-year growth in May, while shipments continued to trail 2024 levels. Demand continues to strongly outpace current production, a dynamic that should support stronger shipment growth in the months ahead,” said Shawn DuBravac, IPC’s chief economist. “Although monthly bookings have now declined for two consecutive months, the overall trend points to resilient demand across the EMS sector.”

Detailed Data Available

Companies that participate in IPC’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 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 EMS industry statistics are based on data provided by a representative sample of assembly equipment manufacturers selling in the USA and Canada. IPC publishes the EMS book-to-bill ratio by the end of each month.

IPC announced today the May 2025 findings from its North American Printed Circuit Board (PCB) Statistical Program. The book-to-bill ratio stands at 1.03.

Total North American PCB shipments in May 2025were up 21.4 percent compared to the same month last year. Compared to the preceding month, May shipments were up 7.1 percent. May's year-to-date (YTD) shipments increased by 7.9% year-over-year (YOY).

PCB bookings in May were up 9.5 percent compared to the same month last year. May bookings were down 12.9 percent compared to the preceding month. May’s YTD bookings increased 18.3% compared to the same period last year.

“North American PCB shipments continued their upward trajectory in May, reflecting strong demand and improving supply chain dynamics. While bookings slowed from the previous month, indicating some near-term cooling in new orders, year-over-year growth remains solid. Demand is largely keeping pace with supply, pointing to a stable near-term outlook,” said Shawn DuBravac, 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.

Today begins a new chapter for IPC as it officially becomes the Global Electronics Association, reflecting its role as the voice of the electronics industry. Guided by the vision of “Better electronics for a better world,” the Global Electronics Association (electronics.org) is dedicated to enhancing supply chain resilience and promoting accelerated growth through engagement with more than 3,000 member companies, thousands of partners, and dozens of governments across the globe.

“The Board's support and approval of this transformation shows our collective recognition that the electronics industry has fundamentally changed. The Association has expanded well beyond its beginning in printed circuit boards – we’re enabling AI, autonomous vehicles, next-generation communications, and much more,” said Tom Edman, board chair of the Global Electronics Association and president and CEO of TTM Technologies. “As we chart our path forward with our new name, we will continue and elevate our efforts to build partnerships between governments and industries, foster new investment, drive innovation across the industry, and minimize disruptions in the electronics supply chain.”

As part of its new mission, the Association is increasing resources to strengthen advocacy, deepen industry insights, and enhance stakeholder communications — all aimed at advancing and elevating the electronics industry. To champion a resilient and growing supply chain, the Association represents the entire ecosystem of diverse subsectors that contribute to this complex industry.

“Electronics today are the backbone of all industries, which makes its supply chain crucial to economies, governments, and everyday life,” said Dr. John W. Mitchell, president and CEO of the Global Electronics Association. “Our new mission and vision position us to work more deeply with industry and our members globally to advocate for the importance of electronics in our continuously changing world.” 

The Global Electronics Association will retain the IPC brand for the industry’s standards and certification programs, which are vital to ensure product reliability and consistency. The IPC Education Foundation is now known as the Electronics Foundation, continuing to focus on solving the talent challenges for the electronics industry. 

Global Electronics Trade Flows 

The Global Electronics Association also released a trade flows study of the global electronics industry, which now represents more than $1 in every $5 of global merchandise trade. 

Key findings include: 

• Electronics supply chains are more globally integrated than any other industry, surpassing even the automotive sector in cross-border complexity. 

• Trade inputs like semiconductors and connectors now exceed trade in finished products such as smartphones and laptops, with global electronics trade totaling $4.5 trillion in 2023, including $2.5 trillion in components alone. 

• Top exporters such as China, Vietnam, and India are among the fastest-growing importers of electronic inputs, underscoring the deep interdependence embedded in global electronics production. 

• This mutual reliance challenges the viability of reshoring and decoupling strategies, as rising export powers depend on components from across the world. 

   

Mitchell concluded: “Our trade flows analysis reinforces that resilience, not self-sufficiency, is the foundation of competitiveness in the electronics age. No single company or country can stand alone. The complexities of the electronics ecosystem require collaboration and partnership with others. The Global Electronics Association is here to help create a vital and thriving global electronics supply chain through industry, government, and stakeholder collaboration.”

Global Operations Supporting Entire Value Chain 

The electronics value chain supported by the Global Electronics Association – from design to final product – encompasses original equipment manufacturers, semiconductors, printed circuit boards, assembly and manufacturing services, harnesses, materials, and equipment suppliers. The Association has operations in Belgium, China, Germany, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Taiwan, and the United States, and a presence across dozens more countries to support its members. 

Additional Resources:

• Interconnected: Global Electronics Trade in an Age of Disruption Trade Flow Study

• Trade Flow Study Summary

• Fact Sheet

• Global Electronics Association Launch Video 

• Logo Reveal Video

• Downloadable High-Resolution Logo

• Media Briefing Recording

• Electronics Ecosystem Infographic