OCTOBER 2, 2007--IPC--Association Connecting Electronics Industries (Bannockburn, IL, USA; www.ipc.org), a global trade association of 2400 member companies representing all facets of the electronic interconnection industry, has announced its findings from its monthly Printed Circuit Board (PCB) Statistical Program. Rigid PCB shipments were down 10.1%, and bookings were down 5.1% in August 2007 from August 2006. Year to date, rigid PCB shipments were down 10.4% and bookings were down 13.4%. Compared to the previous month, rigid PCB shipments increased 9.8% and rigid bookings increased 12.8%. The book-to-bill ratio for the North American rigid PCB industry in August 2007 climbed to 1.06.
Flexible circuit shipments in August 2007 were down 24.7%, and bookings were down 10.0% compared to August 2006. Year to date, flexible circuit shipments are down 5.4% and bookings are up 6.3%. Compared to the previous month, flexible circuit shipments increased 0.4% and flex bookings were up 17.7. The North American flexible circuit book-to-bill ratio rose to 1.07 in August.
For rigid PCBs and flexible circuits combined, industry shipments in August 2007 decreased 11.1% from August 2006, and orders booked decreased 5.4% from August 2006 .Year to date, combined industry shipments were down 10.1% and bookings were down 12.3%. Compared to the previous month, combined industry shipments for August 2007 are up 9.2% and bookings are up 13.1%.The combined (rigid and flex) industry book-to-bill ratio in August 2007 grew to 1.06.
"While the industry is still around 10% below last year's sales levels, it is holding steady," said IPC president Denny McGuirk. "Bookings looked especially strong in August, which indicates the potential for strong sales over the next quarter," he added.