News
SAN JOSE - Worldwide sales of semiconductors reached a record $213 billion in
2004, a year-on-year increase of 28% from 2003, the Semiconductor Industry Association reported
today. December chip sales declined 3.5% sequentially to
$18.4 billion, in line
with historical seasonality.
It was the first time since 2000 that global
chip sales surpassed $200 billion.
December sales were 14.6% higher
than December 2003. Fourth-quarter sales, at $55.1 billion,
declined 0.8% sequentially.
BANNOCKBURN, IL - The December 90-day moving average shipments of all types of circuit boards rose 8.7% year-on-year, according to the latest poll of U.S. PCB fabricators. Bookings shot up 30.6%, a sharp rebound from November.
The domestic book-to-bill ratio was 1.04, up 0.08 from November. November was marked the first time the indicator had dropped below 1.0 since April 2003, said IPC, which tracks the data.
The ratio is based on data collected by IPC from rigid and flex producers and is calculated by dividing three months worth of orders by sales. A ratio over 1.0 is considered an indicator of rising demand.
Separately, the ratios were 0.93 for rigid PCBs and 1.41 for flexible circuits.
Rigid boards, estimated by IPC to make up 82% of all domestic PCBs, actually slid in December, with shipments falling 1.3% and bookings down 6.1%. Flex sales grew 32%, and bookings rose - no typo - 274%.
For the year rigid shipments rose 16%, bookings 6.6%. Flexible shipments grew 67.4% and bookings were up 104.3%.
For the year, shipments rose 26.5% while bookings jumped 25.4%. For the month, shipments rose 1.6% and bookings 73.4% vs. November.
Flex sales include some value-added services in addition to the bare flex circuits.
In a statement, IPC cautioned that month-to-month comparisons should be made with caution as they may reflect cyclical effects.
Tempe, AZ - The manufacturing sector grew in January for the 20th consecutive month, despite a drop in new orders and backlogs. Production reversed a three month slide, said the Institute for Supply Management.
Calling the inventory growth "significant," ISM chairman Norbert Ore said, the PMI reflects "continuing strength in manufacturing. However, manufacturers continue to struggle with prices, particularly for energy.
The PMI measure of economic activity fell 0.9 points sequentially from the revised December number, to 56.4%. New orders fell 6.1 points to 56.5%. However, production rose 1.1 points to 57.8%. Employment was up 4.8 points, to 58.1%.
Electronic Components and Equipment, and Industrial and Commercial Equipment and Computers were among the sectors reporting growth.
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