New Bishop Report: Connector Industry Forecast 2025-2031F

Bishop & Associates’ latest research report, Connector Industry Forecast 2025-2031F, offers a forecast for the connector industry’s performance from 2025 through 2031, along with a preliminary assessment of 2026.

The connector industry is entering one of its strongest growth cycles in decades. With an anticipated 2025 growth of 12.5%, the strongest year-over-year growth since the 2021 COVID comeback year, all things pointed to a strong 2026. What was not expected was how strong and how quickly the industry would kick off this growth. In January 2026, it was announced that in December 2025, the industry had recorded its strongest book-to-bill ratio since March 2022. A solid 1.18, the same book-to-bill recorded 43 months earlier. What would be even more surprising was the fact that a double-digit book-to-bill ratio would become the norm for 2026, with the first eight months of 2026, all exhibiting double-digit book-to-bill ratios, the highest being in March and August at 1.29.

It is important to also note that in addition to a strong book-to-bill, the industry also closed the last quarter of 2025, significantly stronger than originally anticipated. The connector industry achieved sales in 4Q25 of $25,850, up +18.6% in U.S. dollars compared to 4Q24. This 4th quarter growth of +18.6% set the connector industry up for total growth in 2025 of +14.6%, almost two percentage points higher than originally forecasted. If we disregard 2021, the year following the downturn in the overall world economy because of the COVID pandemic, this is the greatest growth in the connector industry since 2010, when sales grew 28.2% after falling -21.8% in 2009. As is expected, not all regions performed as well as others, with several regions showing double-digit growth, and others showing low single-digit year-over-year growth.

Industry Sales Performance by Region

In 2025, as seen by the table below, growth was positive in all regions, with the greatest growth in the Asia Pacific region where growth grew a very strong +XX.X%. Much of this growth was driven by domestic consumption in countries like India, Vietnam, and Malaysia. Although South Korea did grow in 2025, it grew at a much slower pace than most other countries in the region. The Asia Pacific region was followed by China with 2025 growth of XX.X%, and North America, where year-over-year growth was XX.X%. The least growth was seen in the ROW region, where sales grew a meager 0.7%.

The new 2026 Connector Industry Forecast delivers clear, data‑driven insight into worldwide demand, regional performance, and sector‑level trends through 2031F. This new report provides the most comprehensive, data‑rich analysis available — giving leaders across the connector ecosystem the clarity to plan strategically and stay ahead of accelerating market shifts.

What’s Inside the 2026 Forecast

– Worldwide connector market outlook through 2031F
– Regional forecasts for North America, Europe, Japan, China, Asia Pacific, ROW
– Sector‑level analysis across Computers, Industrial, Medical, Automotive, Telecom/Datacom, Consumer,
Military/Aerospace, and Transportation
– Year‑over‑year growth trends and five‑year CAGR projections
– Market share evolution, currency impacts, material cost trends, and historical industry cycles

Key Industry Highlights

• 2025 growth reached +14.6%
• Record 4Q25 sales: “$25,850, up +18.6%”
• Double‑digit book‑to‑bill ratios throughout 2026
• Strongest regional performance in Asia Pacific, followed by China and North America

Who Should Read This Report

• Connector manufacturers & suppliers
• OEMs & contract manufacturers
• Market analysts & strategists
• Investors & financial planners
• Supply chain & operations leaders

This content is available to subscribers of Connector Supplier through a special partnership with Bishop & Associates. No part of this article may be used without the permission of Bishop & Associates Inc. The Bishop Report publishes monthly updates about the performance of the connector industry and key industry topics. Subscribe to the Bishop Report here. Contact us at [email protected] or 630.443.2702. 

Incorporated in 1985, Bishop & Associates, Inc. is a market research firm specializing in the connector and cable assembly industry. The firm publishes the monthly Bishop Report, a newsletter focusing on the connector industry, Industry News Briefs and Updates, The Connector Yearbook, as well as a variety of research reports covering the connector and cable assembly market, its products and its manufacturers. To learn more or to subscribe, visit Bishop & Associates.

Like this article? Check out our other Facts and Figures, Industry News and Market Update articles, our Medical Market Page, and our 2026 Article Archive. 

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