BANNOCKBURN, IL – Total North American EMS shipments in April were up 14.3% compared to the same month last year, according to the findings from IPC's North American Electronics Manufacturing Services Statistical Program. Compared to the preceding month, April shipments increased 5.5%. 

EMS bookings in April decreased 6.1% year-over-year and decreased 1.2% from the previous month. The book-to-bill ratio stands at 1.21.

“EMS orders continue to trend downward,” said Shawn DuBravac, IPC’s chief economist. “April's book-to-bill is the weakest recorded since the start of 2021.”

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.