Beyond Design: High-speed Rules of Thumb
Global PCB Connections: A Technical Overview of Long-flex Printed Circuit Boards
The Shaughnessy Report: A Handy Look at Rules of Thumb
North American PCB Industry Sales Down 11.1% in October
November 22, 2024 | IPCEstimated reading time: 1 minute
IPC announced today the October 2024 findings from its North American Printed Circuit Board (PCB) Statistical Program. The book-to-bill ratio stands at 1.09.
Total North American PCB shipments in October 2024 were down 11.1 percent compared to the same month last year. Compared to the preceding month, October shipments were up 20.4 percent.
PCB bookings in October were up 3.5 percent compared to the same month last year. October bookings were down 3.7 percent compared to the preceding month.
“The October book-to-bill ratio for the North American PCB industry increased 3.1 percent compared to September, driven by strong bookings over the past three months and subdued shipments,” said Shawn DuBravac, Ph.D., IPC’s chief economist. “Year-to-date, order volume remains slightly positive, significantly outpacing the high single-digit decline in shipments.”
Detailed Data Available
Companies that participate in IPC’s North American PCB Statistical Program have access to detailed findings on rigid PCB and flexible circuit sales and orders, including separate rigid and flex book-to-bill ratios, growth trends by product types and company size tiers, demand for prototypes, sales growth to military and medical markets, and other timely data.
Interpreting the Data
The book-to-bill ratios are calculated by dividing the value of orders booked over the past three months by the value of sales billed during the same period from companies in IPC’s survey sample. A ratio of more than 1.00 suggests that current demand is ahead of supply, which is a positive indicator for sales growth over the next three to twelve months. A ratio of less than 1.00 indicates the reverse.
Year-on-year and year-to-date growth rates provide the most meaningful view of industry growth. Month-to-month comparisons should be made with caution as they reflect seasonal effects and short-term volatility. Because bookings tend to be more volatile than shipments, changes in the book-to-bill ratios from month to month might not be significant unless a trend of more than three consecutive months is apparent. It is also important to consider changes in both bookings and shipments to understand what is driving changes in the book-to-bill ratio.
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 by the end of each month.
Share on:
Suggested Items
I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
11/22/2024 | Andy Shaughnessy, I-Connect007In this week’s roundup, I’m highlighting a variety of articles. We have an interview with Jess Hollenbaugh, a recent graduate working for Polar Instruments. We also have an interview with IPC’s Matt Kelly and Devan Iyer, whose white paper may provide a way forward for companies dealing with complex advanced packages. Our newest columnist Tom Yang describes the U.S. PCB industry from the point of view of a technologist from another country, and Dan Beaulieu has a review of Malcolm Gladwell’s follow-up to The Tipping Point. Finally, we have my review of PCB Carolina, a one-day tabletop show that keeps expanding, much like my waistline after eating their catered food. Enjoy!
Real Time with... electronica 2024: Inside CEE PCB—Innovations in Technology
11/22/2024 | Real Time with... electronicaMarcy LaRont Interviews Tom Yang and Jerome Larez From CEE PCB. Tom and Jerome showcase the company's advancements and emphasize the importance of automation in PCB manufacturing for quality and efficiency. The CEE PCB focuses on sustainability and aims to connect with high-tech clients while exploring new partnerships for high-volume production.
Designing for Cost to Manufacture
11/21/2024 | Marcy LaRont, I-Connect007ICAPE's Richard Koensgen, a seasoned field application engineer with a rich background in PCB technology, shares his journey of working with customers and manufacturers through the intricacies of circuit board development and emphasizes the importance of early-stage collaboration with PCB designers. With a focus on tackling the most challenging aspects of PCB design and manufacturing, he discusses everything from layout considerations to the thermal challenges of today's technology when it comes to designing for cost.
PCB Design Software Market Expected to Hit $9.2B by 2031
11/21/2024 | openPRThis report provides an overview of the PCB design software market, detailing key market drivers, challenges, technological advancements, regional dynamics, and future trends. With a projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.4% from 2024 to 2031, the market is expected to grow from USD 3.9 billion in 2024 to USD 9.2 billion by 2031.
Global Citizenship: What I’ve Learned About the American PCB Business
11/20/2024 | Tom Yang -- Column: Global CitizenshipNavigating the complexities of the American PCB business has been an eye-opening experience. During my time in America, I have become more familiar with the American PCB business and doing business here. If I may, and with your indulgence, I would like to share my humble impressions of the American PCB industry and the American way of doing business, which I find interesting and admirable.