Beyond China: Navigating a New Era of Global PCB Fabrication

China remains the largest printed circuit board producer, manufacturing about 51 percent of global output in 2023 according to TPCA & ITRI, with total market value north of US $43 billion in 2024. Yet rising labor costs, trade tensions and government incentives are fueling rapid growth in Southeast Asia, especially Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia. (TPCA & ITRI report; Expert Market Research)

🌍 Why the Landscape Is Shifting

• Geopolitical risk diversification – US‑China trade tensions are driving “China + 1” strategies to avoid disruption. (WSJ)
• Rising labor costs in China – Wages in major manufacturing hubs have climbed steadily over the past decade, squeezing margins.
• Government incentives in SEA – Thailand offers up to eight years of tax exemption for new PCB fabs, spurring a wave of investment. (Creating NanoTech)
• Improving quality outside China – Japanese and Taiwanese board makers are expanding production in SEA, pushing reliability on par with traditional hubs.

China’s Role Today

China’s PCB output accounted for just over 50% of worldwide production in 2023, with sales hitting about US $43 billion in 2024. Examples of recent developments include DuPont and Zhen Ding Technology Group signing a strategic cooperation agreement in October 2024 to advance high-end PCB technology (Zhen Ding’s global market share rose from 7.0% to 7.3% in FY 2024), labor tensions at Foxconn’s Zhengzhou “Wave Project” in March 2024 that prompted worker protests over forced transfers, and Europe now importing 65% of its PCBs from China, underscoring both scale and geopolitical risk. Much of this volume supports automotive, industrial, and AI server markets. (DuPont & Zhen Ding press release; Zhen Ding 2024 results; Business & Human Rights; Evertiq; IBS iElectronics)

Rising in Southeast Asia

• Thailand’s PCB output is forecast at US $3.26 billion in 2024, making it the largest producer in Southeast Asia. (Syspcb.com)
• Vietnam and Malaysia are growing roughly 15–20 percent annually thanks to lower wages and upgraded infrastructure. (Creating NanoTech)
• Singapore focuses on high‑end HDI and rigid‑flex boards, attracting customers who need both speed and precision.

🔗 How PCBFlash Brings It Together

No need to choose a single country or manage separate quotes. PCBFlash evaluates your design data and routes it to the partner fab that best meets your cost, quality and lead‑time targets. We handle all communication, quality checks and logistics so you stay focused on your next design iteration.

💬 Ready to Diversify Your Supply Chain?

Submit your files on our Custom PCB Order page. We’ll recommend the ideal region and manage the rest, giving you flexibility and resilience for every build.