APRIL 2--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, 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 February 2007 climbed to 0.96. The North American flexible circuit book-to-bill ratio increased to 0.97.
The combined (rigid and flex) industry book-to-bill ratio in February 2007 reflected these gains and grew to 0.96. Rigid PCB shipments are down 9.9% and bookings are down 19.1% in February 2007 from February 2006. Year to date, rigid PCB shipments are down 6.8% and bookings are down 19.2%. Compared to the previous month, rigid PCB shipments increased 2.0% and rigid bookings increased 4.2%.
Flexible circuit shipments in February 2007 were up 2.7% and bookings were up 29.5% compared to February 2006. Year to date, flexible circuit shipments are up 8.2% and bookings are up 5.6%. Compared to the previous month, flexible circuit shipments decreased 0.6% and flex bookings were down 2.0%.
For rigid PCBs and flexible circuits combined, industry shipments in February 2007 decreased 9.2% from February 2006, and orders booked decreased 17.4% from February 2006. Year to date, combined industry shipments are down 6.0% and bookings are down 18.1%. Compared to the previous month, combined industry shipments for February 2007 are up 1.8% and bookings are up 3.9%.
"Following a four-month decline in the PCB industry's book-to-bill ratio, it is finally turning upward," said IPC president Denny McGuirk. "The flexible-circuit segment began its upward climb in December of 2006, and the rigid PCB segment showed its first up-tick in February 2007." He continued, "Book-to-bill ratios in both segment are still below parity, which indicates a slowdown in growth in early 2007. But sales and orders in both segments are following their usual seasonal patters."
