BANNOCKBURN, IL — Printed circuit board orders from North American fabricators in December rose 9.2% year-over-year and 9.1% sequentially, according to IPC.

Shipments for the month were up 4.5% compared to December 2019, growing 9.8% sequentially.

The book-to-bill ratio stood at 1.05, meaning that for every $100 worth of PCBs shipped, $105 worth were ordered. A ratio of more than one suggests current demand is ahead of supply, which is a positive indicator for sales growth over the next three to 12 months.

“PCB orders and shipments ended 2020 on a positive note,” said Shawn DuBravac, IPC’s chief economist. “Order flow outpaced shipments for the second consecutive month. For the year, orders were up 4.5%, while shipments increased 2.4%. Recent reports of spot semiconductor shortages might curtail PCB orders in the near-term, but demand continues to look solid.”

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