APRIL 29--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. In March 2005, the North American rigid PCB industry book-to-bill ratio continued at 1.04, while the North American flexible circuit book-to-bill ratio fell to 1.07. These ratios are based on monthly data collected from PCB producers that participate in IPC's monthly PCB Statistical Program. The combined (rigid and flex) industry book-to-bill ratio in March 2005 was 1.05.
Rigid PCB shipments are down 9.0% and bookings are down 2.7% in March 2005 from March 2004. Year to date, rigid PCB shipments are down 4.6%, and bookings are down 4.8%. Rigid PCB shipments from the survey sample increased 8.7% from the previous month and rigid bookings increased 11.1% from the previous month.
Flexible circuit shipments are up 21.3% and bookings are down 35.9% in March 2005 from March 2004. Year to date, flexible-circuit shipments are up 29.5% and bookings are down 2.3%. Compared to the previous month, flexible-circuit shipments from the survey sample increased 0.6% and flex bookings decreased 4.8%.
These growth rates reflect revised February flexible-circuit bookings numbers. As originally reported, February bookings included some cancellations of prior months' orders. These cancellations are more appropriately deducted from the backlog and should not affect current-month bookings. The revised flexible circuit bookings growth rates for February 2005 are down 43.4 from February 2004, up 17.8% year to date, and down 47.7% from the prior month.
For rigid PCBs and flexible circuits combined, industry sales billed (shipments) in March 2005 decreased 4.5% from March 2004, and orders booked decreased 10.0% from March 2004. Year to date, combined industry shipments are up 1.0% and bookings are down 4.3%. Combined industry shipments for March 2005 are up 7.1% over the previous month, and bookings are up 8.3% over the previous month.
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. The influence of flexible circuits is growing, however, as flexible circuit shipments have shown stronger growth than rigid PCBs over the past 18 months.
For more information, contact IPC director of market research Sharon Starr at[email protected] or 847-597-2817.