MILPITAS, CA – PCB and multichip design tools posted continued growth in the fourth quarter as the electronic system design industry reached $5.5 billion in revenue, up 10.3% year-over-year, according to the Electronic System Design Alliance.

PCB and multichip module (MCM) design revenue totaled $484.6 million in the fourth quarter, increasing 1.8% from the prior year, with a four-quarter moving average rise of 4.5%. The steady gains reflect ongoing demand for board-level and system-level design tools as increasing complexity in high-speed, high-density electronics continues to push design requirements.

Across the broader market, growth was seen in most categories and regions. The Americas and Asia-Pacific led with increases of 13.9% and 11.3%, respectively, while Europe, the Middle East and Africa also posted gains. Japan was the only region to report a decline.

Overall, the industry’s four-quarter moving average rose 10.1%, underscoring sustained expansion and highlighting the growing importance of PCB and multichip design within the wider electronic system design landscape.

For more on the trends behind this sustained growth, including key drivers and emerging risks, check out PCB Chat 154 featuring Wally Rhines discussing the latest ECAD market data.