BANNOCKBURN, IL – North American PCB shipments rose 5.1% year-over-year in May, but orders fell 4.2%.

Through May, shipments are up 6.2%, while bookings are 7.5% higher. Compared to April, shipments were down 0.7% and bookings were down 5.2%. The book-to-bill ratio fell to 0.96.

The ratio is calculated by the value of shipments divided by bookings over the past three months. A ratio higher than 1.0 is considered a sign of an expanding market.

The data were released Monday night by IPC.

At least 14% of the boards accounted for in the IPC data were produced offshore but sold within North America. Thus, the actual production would be lower than the aggregate datasuggest.

For the month, rigid PCB shipments were up 5.7% and bookings were down 4.1% in May year-over-year. Year to date, rigid shipments are up 6.4% and bookings 9.4%. Sequentially, rigid shipments are down 0.1% and bookings are off 5.7%. The rigid book-to-bill ratio fell to 0.95. 

Flex circuit shipments were down 3.5% and bookings were off 5% compared to May 2007. Year to date, flex shipments are up 3.3% and bookings down 12.5%. Flex shipments were down 9.3% and flex bookings up 1.1% sequentially. The book-to-bill rose to 1.01.