BANNOCKBURN, IL – North American EMS shipments rose 0.2% in April compared to the same month in 2024, according to IPC data released this week. Shipments dipped 1.4% from March, and year-to-date shipments were down slightly, by 0.2%, year-over-year.

EMS bookings dropped 10% year-over-year in April and declined 7.7% sequentially. Year-to-date bookings were nearly flat, down just 0.02% compared to the same period last year.

The book-to-bill ratio rose 50 basis points to 1.41, its highest point since April 2024, reflecting continued demand outpacing fulfillment. The ratio is 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.

“The pullback in April orders may reflect a recalibration of expectations around tariffs,” said Shawn DuBravac, IPC’s chief economist. “The strong book-to-bill ratio for the North American EMS sector was partly driven by weak shipments, as fulfillment continues to lag demand.”

IPC cautions that while the book-to-bill ratio is a positive indicator of future growth, short-term fluctuations in bookings and shipments should be interpreted in context with broader industry trends.

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