ALAMEDA, CA -- Electronics production in Central and Eastern Europe is on course to hit $100 billion as contract manufacturers and component companies expand their local presence, a new report says.

According to a Technology Forecasters report published this month, the region currently produces some $85 billion worth of electronics. Hungary, at $28.1 billion, is the largest electronics producer in the region, and home to 8,100 electronics companies.

Although the region’s electronics manufacturing sector is not on the same scale as that in Asia, close to half of the study’s respondents consider Central and Eastern Europe a more desirable manufacturing location than Asia for products heading to European customers, TFI said. Meanwhile, less than 25% prefer Asia, and 30% were uncertain, the study found.

“The Central and Eastern Europe region plays an undeniably important role for the electronics markets in Europe, Middle East, and Africa,” said TFI president Pamela Gordon. “Given that most of the world’s large electronics companies – and many smaller ones – are growing their operations in the CEE region, we are confident that the strategic role of the region will only increase.”

The research was conducted during the September quarter by TFI, with the 54 respondents comprised of brand-name OEMs (33%), contract manufacturers (33%),  component manufacturers and distributors (25%) and electronic-waste recyclers.