Total North American PCB shipments in November 2018 were down 3.0% compared to the same month last year. This year to date, shipments are 8.6% above the same period last year. Compared to the preceding month, November shipments decreased 9.9%.
PCB bookings in November were down 12.5%year-over-year. Year-to-date order growth was 6.6% above the same period last year. Bookings in November were down 16.6% from the previous month.
“North American PCB industry sales growth in November fell into negative territory for the first time in 16 months, and orders also decreased sharply compared to the same month last year,” said Sharon Starr, IPC’s director of market research. “The decrease in orders brought the PCB book-to-bill ratio down to its lowest level in almost two years. It is still in positive territory, but just barely. The 22-month run of positive ratios may be nearing its end, but it still offers an indication of potential sales growth for a few more months at least.”
IPC’s monthly PCB industry statistics are based on data provided by a representative sample of both rigid PCB and flexible circuit manufacturers selling in the USA and Canada. IPC publishes the PCB book-to-bill ratio at the end of each month. Statistics for the current month are normally available in the last week of the following month.