IPC releases IMS/PCB book-to-bill ratio

JUNE 25--IPC--Association Connecting Electronics Industries (Northbrook, IL; www.ipc.org) has announced the findings from its monthly Interconnect Manufacturing Services (IMS)/Printed Circuit Board (PCB) Statistical Program. The North American IMS/PCB book-to-bill ratio for May 2004 remained steady 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 May 2004 increased 41.3% from May 2003, and orders booked increased 62.4% from May 2003. Compared to 2003, shipments of PCBs are up 36.3% year-to-date, while bookings of PCBs are up 50.3% 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 138.7 and the IMS/PCB booking index was 168.8 for May 2004. The IPC IMS/PCB shipment index in May 2004 increased 5.5% from 131.4 in April 2004, and the IPC IMS/PCB booking index in May 2004 increased 23.8% from 136.3 in April 2004.

Year-to-date, current survey participants report shipments have increased 33.0% and bookings have increased 47.8% over the same period in 2003. Together, these figures show a North American PCB industry that is rebounding.