NEEDHAM, MA – Shipments of smartphones will decline 1.1% in 2023 to 1.19 billion units, down from the previous forecast of 2.8% growth as the market continues to suffer from weak demand and ongoing macroeconomic challenges, according to the International Data Corporation's latest Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker forecast.

We headed to IPC Apex Expo in late January not certain of what to expect. The backdrop, of course, was one of job upheaval. Blue chip tech companies were announcing large-scale layoffs, and the “disengagement” counts were starting to accumulate in striking fashion. To wit:

• HP: 4,000 to 6,000
• Dell: 6,650
• Google: 12,000
• IBM: 3,900
• Meta: 11,000
• Microsoft: 10,000
• Twitter: Everyone except Elon Musk and a couple of engineers brought over from Tesla*

HONG KONG – ASMPT reported revenue of HK$4.33 billion ($553.1 million) for the fourth quarter, a decline of 5.1% from the previous quarter.

TAIPEI – Foxconn Technology Group has leased a 293-acre plot of land to build new smart warehouses in Zhengzhou, the same Chinese city where the company operates the world's largest iPhone plant.

REDMOND, WA – Data I/O announced net sales of $7.3 million in the fourth quarter, up 14% compared to the $6.4 million in sales in the fourth quarter of 2021.

BELLA VISTA, AUSTRALIA – Australian electronics manufacturer Circuitwise has enlisted E&P Corporate Advisory to search for a private equity backer to help fund growth and manage succession.

SINGAPORE – Kulicke and Soffa Industries has announced the acquisition of Advanced Jet Automation, including the material business and assets formerly owned by its affiliate, Samurai Spirit Inc., a Taiwanese developer and manufacturer of high-precision micro-dispensing equipment and solutions.

BANNOCKBURN, IL – North American EMS shipments were up 10.1% compared to the same month last year, and decreased 3.7% from December's total, according to the IPC's North American Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) Statistical Program. The book-to-bill ratio stands at 1.35.

BANNOCKBURN, IL – North American PCB shipments were down 1.2% compared to the same month last year, and were dropped 21.7% compared to December, according to findings from the IPC's North American Printed Circuit Board (PCB) Statistical Program. The book-to-bill ratio stands at 0.94.

MIAMI – Element Solutions, the parent company of MacDermid Alpha, saw an 18% decrease in net sales for the fourth quarter to total $338 million, while full-year electronics sales saw a 1% increase to reach $1.6 billion.

HELSINKI – Incap Corporation announced that revenue for the fourth quarter amounted to €78.7 million ($83.7 million), an increase of 52.9% from 2021's fourth-quarter revenue of €51.4 million ($54.7 million).

OULU, FINLAND – Scanfil reported turnover of €222.3 million ($237.6 million) for the fourth quarter, an increase of 15.9% from the €191.7 million ($204 million) reported for the same quarter in 2021.