BANNOCKBURN, IL – Total North American EMS shipments in March were up 0.2% compared to the same month last year, according to IPC's findings from its North American EMS Statistical Program. The book-to-bill ratio stands at 1.37, up from 1.27 in February.

Compared to the preceding month, March shipments were up 4.2%.

EMS bookings in March increased 12.7% year-over-year and increased 10.5% from the previous month.

"March bookings jumped as buyers raced to get ahead of mounting uncertainty," said Shawn DuBravac, Ph.D., IPC chief economist. "Concerns over geopolitical tensions and potential tariff hikes have prompted preemptive orders as firms look to secure inventory before conditions worsen. But while bookings surged, shipment growth remained relatively flat, reminding us that order volumes have a natural ceiling dictated by production capacity limitations."

The book-to-bill ratios are 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. A ratio of more than 1.0 suggests that current demand is ahead of supply, which is a positive indicator for sales growth over the next three to twelve months. A ratio of less than 1.0 indicates the reverse.

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