IPC releases IMS/PCB book-to-bill ratios for March 2006

MAY 1--IPC--Association Connecting Electronics Industries (Bannockburn, IL), a global trade association of 2300 member companies representing all facets of the electronic interconnection industry, including design, printed-circuit-board manufacturing, and electronics assembly, has announced its findings from its monthly Printed Circuit Board (PCB) Statistical Program. The North American rigid PCB industry book-to-bill ratio for March 2006 remained strong at 1.14, but the North American flexible circuit book-to-bill ratio dipped to 0.94. The combined (rigid and flex) industry book-to-bill ratio in March 2006 was 1.13.

Rigid PCB shipments are up 10.1% and bookings are up 15.3% in March 2006 from March 2005. Year to date, rigid PCB shipments are up 7.0%, and bookings are up 16.2%. Rigid PCB shipments from the survey sample increased 14.6% from the previous month, and rigid bookings increased 10.4% from the previous month.

Flexible-circuit shipments in March 2006 were up 0.4% and bookings were up 6.4% compared to March 2005. Year to date, flexible-circuit shipments are up 7.7% and bookings are down 11.7%. Compared to the previous month, flexible--circuit shipments from the survey sample increased 22.6%, and flex bookings increased 77.5%.

For rigid PCBs and flexible circuits combined, industry shipments in March 2006 increased 9.4% from March 2005, and orders booked increased 14.7% from March 2005. Year to date, combined industry shipments are up 7.1% and bookings are up 14.3%. Combined industry shipments for March 2006 are up 15.1% over the previous month, and bookings are up 13.1% over the previous month.

"Both bookings and shipments of rigid PCBs are still going strong this year," said IPC president Denny McGuirk. "Year-on-year sales growth in flexible circuits has been on the decline since last November, although it's still positive. March 2006 was the first month since February 2003 that year-on-year sales growth rates were higher for rigid PCBs than for flexible circuits," McGuirk added.

The book-to-bill ratios and growth rates for rigid PCBs and flexible circuits combined are heavily affected by the rigid PCB segment, which represents more than 75% of the current PCB market in North America.

For more information, contact IPC director of market research Sharon Starr at [email protected] or call (847) 597-2817.