JUNE 1--IPC-Association Connecting Electronics Industries (Northbrook, IL; www.ipc.org), a trade association of more than 2200 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 Interconnect Manufacturing Services (IMS)/Printed Circuit Board (PCB) Statistical Program. The North American IMS/PCB industry book-to-bill ratio for April 2004 remained positive at 1.11. A ratio of more than 1.00 suggests that current demand is ahead of supply, which indicates probable near-term growth.
Industry sales billed (shipments) in April 2004 increased 41.3% from April 2003, and orders booked increased 63.6% from April 2003. Compared to 2003, shipments of PCBs are up 34.7% year-to-date, while bookings of PCBs are up 47.1% year-to-date.
The IMS/PCB Business Report, an IPC statistical report that tracks the dynamics of the US IMS industry, reported the IMS/PCB shipment index was 131.4 and the IMS/PCB booking index was 136.3 for April 2004. The IPC IMS/PCB shipment index in April 2004 decreased 13.3% from 151.5 in March 2004, and the IPC IMS/PCB booking index in April 2004 decreased 15.2% from 160.9 in March 2004.
Percentages based on the index numbers reflect changes in the size of the industry. Data reported by current participants in IPC's monthly survey, however, tell another side of the story. These participating companies report that their shipments increased 30.9% in April 2004 over April 2003 and that their orders booked increased 49.8% in April, year-over-year. Year-to-date, current survey participants report shipments have increased 30.4% and bookings have increased 43.0% over the same period in 2003. Together, these figures show a North American PCB industry that is rebounding.
For more information, contact IPC director of market research Sharon Starr at [email protected] or 847-790-5317.