BANNOCKBURN, IL – IPC said North American printed circuit board shipments were up 5.4% year-over-year in March. Orders decreased 9.9% compared to the same month in 2010.

Year to date, circuit board shipments were up 6.9%, while orders were down 7.1%. Sequentially, shipments increased 14.9%, and orders were up 21.9%.

The book-to-bill ratio in March held steady at 0.95. A ratio of more than 1.0 suggests current demand is ahead of supply, which is a positive indicator for sales growth over the next two to three months.

Rigid circuit board shipments were up 5.1%, while orders decreased 10.1% year-over-year.

Year to date, rigid board shipments were up 6.7%, and orders declined 8.5%. Sequentially, shipments increased 14.9%, and orders increased 26%.

The March rigid book-to-bill ratio remained at 0.94.

Flex circuit board shipments for the month were up 9.1%, and orders declined 7.4% compared to March 2010.

Year to date, flex shipments increased 9.3%, while orders were up 9.6%. Sequentially, flex shipments increased 15%, and orders fell 13.2%.

The flex book-to-bill moderated to 1.04.

“North American PCB sales in March were strong, following normal seasonal patterns, and sales of both rigid PCBs and flexible circuits are still ahead of last year,” said IPC president and CEO Denny McGuirk. “Stronger sales than orders is the dynamic keeping the book-to-bill ratio holding slightly below parity, which indicates slowing growth over the next quarter.”

Rigid PCBs represent an estimated 89% of the current industry in North America, says IPC. In March, 83% of total shipments reported were domestically produced. Domestic production accounted for 83% of rigid PCB and 85% of flexible circuit shipments.