ATLANTA-- Sales sentiment for electronic components remained stable in March, with the Electronic Component Sales Trend (ECST) index declining 0.7 points sequentially to 112.5, the Electronic Components Industry Association said today.

The forecast for April indicates a slight dip to 111.3, according to the latest ECIA survey.

Despite the minor decrease, industry sentiment remains positive. "The sustained sales momentum is encouraging as 2025 progresses," said ECIA chief analyst Dale Ford. Expectations for component categories in April range closely between 108.4 and 112.9, reinforcing optimism for continued demand.

The ECST survey, conducted monthly and quarterly, tracks short-term industry expectations across the electronics component supply chain. It covers sales trends, product lead times, cancellations, and decommits across major component categories, semiconductor subcategories, and key end markets.

BANNOCKBURN, IL - Electronics demand in March reached its highest level in nearly a year, with strong manufacturing activity and rising shipments, according to a survey IPC released today. Capacity utilization hit its highest point since late 2023, while hiring constraints eased to record levels. Material costs rose, however, reversing a multi-month decline, and firms remain cautious about labor costs.

The report, which was taken February 13 to 28, found that on average 29% of manufacturers’ supply chains are currently reliant on Chinese suppliers.

To counter tariffs, some 31% of manufacturers responding to the survey reported investing in automation, while 28% switched to non-tariffed suppliers. Additionally, 61% are considering renegotiating contracts to mitigate cost pressures.

Looking ahead over the next six months, electronics manufacturers expect labor and material costs to remain high, with European manufacturers anticipating a sharper decline in capacity utilization than their North American counterparts. Trade policies remain a top concern, with nearly half of respondents citing economic impact as a key issue.

BANNOCKBURN, IL - Electronics demand in March reached its highest level in nearly a year, with strong manufacturing activity and rising shipments, according to a survey IPC released today.

PEACHTREE CITY, GA – PCEA Training is offering a five-day Certified Professional Circuit Designer (CPCD) training and certification class May 9, 16, 23, 30, and June 6 for printed circuit engineers, layout professionals, and other individuals currently serving in the design engineering industry or seeking to get into it.

SAINT-HERBLAIN, FRANCE -- Lacroix reported 2024 revenue of €635.5 million ($686 million), an 8.6% year-over-year decline from 2024 on a like-for-like basis.

SINGAPORE -- Kulicke & Soffa will wind down its electronics assembly equipment business and take charges of up to $100 million as part of a revamp of its strategic plan, the company's board announced in a stock filing.

GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- ADAC Automotive today announced the acquisition of EBW Electronics, an electronics design and assembly company.

BANNOCKBURN, IL — The 90-day moving average shipments by North American electronics manufacturing services companies rose 1.7% in year-over-year in February and ticked up 0.2% over the previous month.

BANNOCKBURN, IL — The 90-day moving average shipments among North American printed circuit board fabricators rose 11.3% in February from a year ago, according to new data from the IPC trade group.

MILPITAS, CA - Global fab equipment spending for front-end facilities in 2025 is anticipated to increase by 2% year-over-year to $110 billion, marking the sixth consecutive year of growth since 2020, SEMI announced in its latest quarterly World Fab Forecast report.

NEEDHAM, MA – Global shipments for AR/VR headsets grew 10% in 2024, according to new data from IDC. The launch of new products during the holiday quarter, as well as multiple new entrants, helped the market return to growth after two years of declines.

TAIPEI – NAND flash prices are expected to stabilize in the second quarter, while prices for wafers and client SSDs are projected to rise, the result of production cuts and inventory restocking across the PC, smartphone, and data center sectors, TrendForce reported today.