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NVR stands for New Venture Research, the publisher of a long-running electronics manufacturing services (EMS) market study. The headline figure of 10.8% growth in 2017 cannot be confirmed from the public material cited here. NVR-related 2017 estimates do support a large global market and mid-single-digit growth forecasts, but those figures use different market definitions and should not be substituted for the 10.8% claim.
What NVR means in the EMS market
New Venture Research (NVR) published the Worldwide Electronics Manufacturing Services Market study and Manufacturing Market Insider. EMS providers manufacture electronic products for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), often alongside services such as engineering, testing, supply-chain management, repair, remanufacturing and lifecycle support.
OEMs outsource assembly to specialized providers, while rising electronic content creates demand for manufacturing capacity and related expertise. Competition among EMS providers can turn on price, quality and reliability, engineering design, production flexibility, delivery performance, lead times, test capability and global presence, as described in a 2017 Kimball Electronics SEC filing.
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Is 10.8% confirmed as the 2017 global EMS growth rate?
Not by the publicly available passages identified for this topic. The exact 10.8% figure should therefore be treated as an attributed headline claim, not as a verified market result. The available 2017 sources report forecasts with different scopes and periods; none establishes that the market grew exactly 10.8% during calendar year 2017.
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A later NVR report, as cited by EE Times, says the global EMS industry grew 15% in 2018 to nearly $542 billion, with growth accelerating in both 2017 and 2018. That later account supports the characterization of a strong period, but it does not verify a precise 2017 rate.
What NVR’s 2017 materials estimated
The NVR-related figures are not interchangeable: they describe electronics assembly value, EMS segment revenue or contract manufacturing, and use differing forecast windows.
| Measure and source | Reported estimate | How to read it |
|---|---|---|
| Worldwide electronics assembly value; NVR forecast cited in a 2017 Kimball Electronics SEC filing | 4.2% CAGR from 2016 through 2021. Forecast CAGRs for automotive, medical and industrial were 5.7%, 4.3% and 4.5%, respectively. | A multi-year forecast, not a measured 2017 growth rate. |
| EMS segment revenue; NVR-sourced table cited by Lincoln International in 2017 | $329.231 billion in 2016 and $427.462 billion in 2021, a stated 5.4% CAGR. | A segment-revenue series covering a forecast period, not a one-year 2017 result. |
| Contract manufacturing; Research and Markets’ description of the NVR study | $425 billion in 2016 to $551 billion in 2021, approximately 5.3% CAGR. | A differently scoped contract-manufacturing estimate and forecast. |
The estimates differ because “EMS market” can refer to different activity and revenue measures. Before comparing a growth rate or market size, check whether the figure covers EMS alone or EMS plus original design manufacturing (ODM), assembly value or service revenue, its base year and forecast period, geography, segment definitions and provider-ranking methodology. A forecast made at the time should also be distinguished from a later estimate or revision.
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The 2017 Lincoln International table attributed to NVR lists communications as the largest segment, followed by computers and consumer electronics. These shares are of the table’s 2016 EMS segment revenue, not of the overall electronics industry.
| Segment | Share of 2016 EMS segment revenue |
|---|---|
| Communications | 39.1% |
| Computers | 25.4% |
| Consumer | 13.9% |
| Industrial | 9.2% |
| Medical | 5.2% |
| Automotive | 4.0% |
| Commercial aviation | 1.7% |
| Defense/other | 1.6% |
What was driving growth, and what does the evidence say?
Growing connectivity and smart electronics were identified as important growth themes in 2017 coverage. Evertiq reported a 23.6% CAGR forecast for smart electronics through 2020; that was a forecast for smart electronics, not a measured growth rate for the EMS market in 2017.
Research and Markets described the NVR study as covering 63 product segments and 916 manufacturing sites. These details indicate the breadth of the study’s coverage, but they do not resolve the exact 10.8% claim or make its estimate directly comparable with every other market total.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Where to find NVR market research today
The NVR research program moved to the Global Electronics Association in 2026. In its May 27, 2026 announcement, the Association said the program represents industry knowledge developed over many years. The same announcement described the EMS market as approximately $658 billion in 2024 and projected a 4.6% CAGR in the years ahead. Those are current Association statements, not evidence for NVR’s claimed 2017 growth rate.
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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →For historical figures, look for the 2017 NVR study or contemporaneous citations to it, such as the Research and Markets listing and the NVR-sourced table cited by Lincoln International. Availability of the original report may vary. For newer estimates, consult the Global Electronics Association’s EMS market research and check its stated market definition and forecast period before comparing figures.
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