PCB Design Software Sales Rose 5% YoY in Q1, ESD Alliance Says
MILPITAS, CA — Sales of software for designing printed circuit boards and multichip module rose 4.8% in the first quarter to $419 million, the ESD Alliance announced today.
The four-quarter moving average, which compares the most recent four quarters to the prior four, rose 4.3%.
Overall electronic system design (ESD) revenue increased 12.7% year-over-year to $5.75 billion in the first quarter. The four-quarter moving average rose 10.3%,
“The electronic design automation industry continued to report strong year-over-year revenue growth in Q1 2026,” said Walden C. Rhines, speaking on behalf of the ESDA. “All product categories reported gains, with computer-aided engineering and semiconductor IP showing double-digit growth. The Americas, EMEA, and APAC geographic regions reported growth in Q1, with double digit increases in EMEA and APAC.”
The companies tracked in the EDMD report employed 72,544 people globally in Q1, a 12.6% increase over last year and up 1.1% compared to the fourth quarter.
Other highlights:
- Computer-aided engineering (CAE) revenue increased 15.5% to $2.02 billion. The four-quarter moving average increased 13.1%.
- IC physical design and verification revenue increased 8.3% to $751 million. The four-quarter moving average decreased 0.9%.
- Semiconductor Intellectual Property (SIP) revenue increased 14.1% to $2.33 billion. The four-quarter moving average rose 13.7%.
- Services revenue increased 6.5% to $226 million. The four-quarter moving average rose 11.9%.
- The Americas, the largest reporting region by revenue, procured $2.43 billion of electronic system design products and services, a 10.2% increase. The four-quarter moving average rose 9.8%.
- Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) procured $766 million, a 17.6% increase. The four-quarter moving average grew 10.9%.
- Japan's purchases decreased 9.9% to $283 million in Q1 2026. The four-quarter moving average for Japan decreased 12.4%.
- Asia Pacific (APAC) procured $2.26 billion in Q1, a 17.7% increase. The four-quarter moving average for APAC grew 14.5%.
