Jan 06, 2025 The electronics industry faced a dip in sentiment this December, as the Demand Index declined 1.8 percent according to IPC’s December Sentiment of the Global Electronics Manufacturing Supply Chain Report. It remained below 100 for the fourth consecutive month, signaling continued contraction.
Cost pressures continue to challenge operations. The Labor Costs Index climbed two percentage points from its all-time low, while the Material Costs Index dropped four percentage points. The majority of firms continue to report ongoing increases in both labor and material costs, straining operations.
In response to special questions regarding the electronics industry’s concern with proposed tariffs, trade concerns loom large for 2025. A majority (68 percent) of electronics manufacturers and suppliers express at least a moderate concern about the impact of potential tariffs on the electronics industry. A significant portion (38 percent) plan to pass the full cost increase of any tariffs on to their customers. Another 19 percent intend to share the burden, passing along past of the expense while absorbing some internally. Only a small majority (4 percent) expect to absorb the entire cost without raising prices. “These strategies suggest that most firms view transferring at least a portion of tariff-related costs to end-users as unavoidable,” said Shawn DuBravac, Ph.D., IPC chief economist and report author.
Additional survey data show:
- North American electronics manufacturers, along with those operating globally, are experiencing rising backlogs more so than European manufacturers.
- Material costs are declining more among electronics manufacturers in Europe and APAC vs. firms in North America.
- Over the next six months, electronics manufacturers expect labor and material costs to remain high, with ease of recruitment likely to remain challenging.
These results are based upon the findings of IPC’s Current State of Electronics Manufacturing Survey, fielded between November 15 and November 30, 2024.
Read the full report.
IPC (www.IPC.org) is a global industry association based in Bannockburn, Ill., dedicated to the competitive excellence and financial success of its 3,200+ member companies which represent all facets of the electronics industry, including design, printed board manufacturing, electronics assembly, and test. As a member-driven organization and leading source for industry standards, training, market research and public policy advocacy, IPC supports programs to meet the needs of an estimated $2 trillion global electronics industry. IPC maintains additional offices in Atlanta, Georgia; Washington, D.C.; Miami, Fla.; Mexico City, Mexico; Munich, Germany; Brussels, Belgium; Bangalore and New Delhi, India; Bangkok, Thailand; and Qingdao, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Chengdu, Suzhou and Beijing, China.
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