PCB etching equipment market seen reaching $2.58 billion by 2030

The printed circuit board etching equipment market is forecast to grow from $1.73 billion in 2025 to $2.58 billion by 2030, driven by consumer electronics, multilayer boards and electric vehicle demand. Asia-Pacific remains the largest and fastest-growing region as manufacturers push for finer, faster and more efficient etching.

Why it matters: - PCB etching equipment sits at the center of electronics manufacturing, shaping how precisely copper is removed to create circuit patterns. - Demand is rising as more devices require high-density, multilayer and flexible circuit boards. - The market’s growth points to broader investment in manufacturing capacity for consumer electronics, electric vehicles and connected devices.

What happened: - The PCB etching equipment market is projected to rise from $1.73 billion in 2025 to $1.88 billion in 2026. - The market is forecast to reach $2.58 billion by 2030. - The projected 2025-2026 growth rate is 8.7%, while the 2026-2030 growth rate is 8.2%. - The Business Research Company published the forecast in its Global Market Report 2026 on printed circuit board market trends and forecasts.

The details: - PCB etching equipment removes excess copper from circuit board surfaces to form detailed circuit patterns. - The systems use chemical, electrochemical or plasma techniques. - The equipment is designed to deliver controlled material removal, high-resolution circuits and repeatable quality. - Recent growth has been driven by higher PCB production, especially for consumer electronics. - The market also benefits from increasing use of multilayer and high-density PCB designs. - Future demand is tied to finer circuit patterns, flexible and rigid-flexible PCBs, and faster etching processes. - The report points to improving copper removal uniformity, higher throughput and better chemical efficiency as emerging priorities. - Demand from consumer electronics remains a major driver because smartphones, televisions, laptops and wearables all rely on advanced PCBs. - In July 2025, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport said about 96% of adults in England owned and used a smartphone at home in 2024/25, up from 93% the year before. - The same DCMS data showed smart TV ownership at 76% and laptop ownership at 68%. - Electric vehicles and connected devices are adding complexity and volume to PCB manufacturing. - The report includes market attractiveness scoring, TAM analysis, company scoring matrix graphics, Excel-based forecasting dashboards, market hotspot infographics, key technology analysis and updated graphics and tables. - The report offers a free sample and full report online via the company's links. - More information - The full report

Between the lines: - The forecast suggests PCB makers are prioritizing precision and efficiency over simple production volume. - The emphasis on flexible boards and EV-linked manufacturing signals a shift toward more complex electronics applications. - Asia-Pacific’s lead reflects the region’s dense electronics supply chain and continued investment in PCB technology.

What's next: - Asia-Pacific is expected to remain the largest PCB etching equipment market through the forecast period. - Asia-Pacific is also projected to be the fastest-growing region. - Other markets covered in the report include South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, the Middle East and Africa. - The market will likely keep moving toward higher-resolution patterning, better chemical efficiency and faster throughput as electronics makers scale production.

The bottom line: - PCB etching equipment demand is rising with the push for smaller, denser and more advanced electronics, and the market is on track for steady growth through 2030.