March N. American PCB Shipments Drop 12.2% YoY
BANNOCKBURN, IL – North American printed circuit board industry shipments in March decreased 12.2% year-over-year, says IPC.
Orders increased just 0.2% compared to March 2011.
Year to date, shipments were down 6.5%, and orders were up 4.1%. Sequentially, circuit board shipments for March increased 11%, while orders increased 8.8%.
The book-to-bill ratio strengthened to 1.06. A ratio of more than 1.0 suggests that current demand is ahead of supply, which is a positive indicator for sales growth over the next two to three months.
Rigid PCB shipments were down 12.6% year-over-year, and orders fell 2.2% compared to the same month last year. Year to date, rigid board shipments decreased 6.4%, and orders increased 4.6%. Sequentially, rigid board shipments increased 10.6%, while orders increased 9.1%.
The rigid board book-to-bill ratio improved to 1.05.
Flexible circuit board shipments for the month were down 7.2%, but orders were up 34.5% compared to March 2011. Year to date, flex board shipments decreased 7.2%, and orders decreased 1.5%. Sequentially, shipments increased 17%, and orders were up 5.3%.
The North American flex circuit board book-to-bill jumped to 1.18.
“PCB sales in North America in March continued to reflect normal seasonal patterns,” said Sharon Starr, IPC director of market research. “Orders continued to outpace sales,” she added, “pushing the book-to-bill ratio up for the fourth consecutive month, and that bodes well for sales growth in the next quarter.”
Rigid PCBs represent an estimated 89% of the current PCB industry in North America, says IPC. In March 2012, 82% of total PCB shipments were domestically produced. Domestic production accounted for 82% of rigid and 80% of flexible circuit board shipments.
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订单增加了0.2％相比，2011年3月。
年初至今，出货量下降了6.5％，订单增长4.1％。按顺序，三月的电路板出货量增长了11％，而订单增长8.8％。
加强书运销值比为1.06。比率超过1.0，表明目前的需求是提前供应，这是在未来两到三个月的销售增长的积极迹象。
刚性PCB发货量下降了12.6％，比去年一年，订单下降了2.2％，与去年同月相比。今年迄今为止，硬板出货量下降了6.4％，订单增长了4.6％。按顺序，硬板出货量增长10.6％，而订单增长9.1％。
硬板的书帐单的比例提高到1.05。
月柔性电路板出货量同比下降7.2％，但订单分别增长34.5％，比2011年3月。今年迄今为止，软板出货量下降了7.2％，订单下降1.5％。顺序，出货量增长了17％，订单增长5.3％。
北美柔性电路板的书对账单上升到1.18。
，斯塔尔，IPC市场研究部总监说：“沙龙”在北美的PCB销售在三月继续反映正常的季节性模式。 “订单继续高于销售，”她补充说，“推书运销值比为连续第四个月了，这预示着在下一季度的销售增长。”
刚性PCB估计有89％在北美当前PCB行业的IPC说。在2012年3月，PCB总发货量的82％，国内生产。国内生产占82％的刚性和柔性电路板出货量的80％。
