PCB fabrication Growth Flat in 2014
IPC — Association Connecting Electronics Industries announced today the December findings from its monthly North American Printed Circuit Board (PCB) Statistical Program. PCB sales and bookings ended 2014 about even with 2013, but positive book-to-bill ratios in the fourth quarter signal sales growth in 2015.
Total North American PCB shipments increased 3.4 percent in December 2014 from December 2013, bringing year-to-date shipment growth to -0.8 percent. Compared to the previous month, PCB shipments were up 6.4 percent.
PCB bookings increased by 7.9 percent compared to December 2013, improving the year-to-date order growth rate to 0.6 percent. Orders grew 13.4 percent in December compared to the previous month.
The North American PCB book-to-bill ratio strengthened to 1.07 in December.
“PCB business in North America was virtually flat in 2014 compared to the previous year,” said Sharon Starr, IPC’s director of market research. “Sales
ended the year less than one percentage point below 2013, while orders finished the year just 0.6 percent above 2013. Strong orders in the fourth quarter
have kept the book-to-bill ratio solidly in positive territory,” she added, “which bodes well for sales growth in 2015.”
