-
- News
- Books
Featured Books
- pcb007 Magazine
Latest Issues
Current IssueDon’t Just Survive, Thrive
If we are to be relevant and prosper during these next critical decades in electronics, we must do more than survive. As an industry, we can and must thrive. In this issue, our contributors explore these concepts meant to help you take your business to the next level.
Material Matters
Materials management is nuanced, multifaceted, and requires a holistic systems approach for business success. When building high mix, low volume, and high technology, managing materials and overall cost containment are even greater challenges.
Additive Manufacturing
In this month’s issue, we explore additive manufacturing technology for the PCB fabricator: where it stands today, the true benefits, and where it seems to be headed.
- Articles
- Columns
Search Console
- Links
- Events
||| MENU - pcb007 Magazine
North American PCB Industry Sales Up 5.3% in August
September 24, 2021 | IPCEstimated reading time: 1 minute
![](https://iconnect007.com/application/files/5616/9086/8092/IPC_PCB_thumb.jpg)
IPC announced the August 2021 findings from its North American Printed Circuit Board (PCB) Statistical Program. The book-to-bill ratio stands at 1.31.
Total North American PCB shipments in August 2021 were up 5.3 percent compared to the same month last year. Compared to the preceding month, August shipments fell 2.7 percent.
PCB year-to-date bookings in August were up 21.9 percent compared to last year. Bookings in August fell 16.7 percent from the previous month.
“While North American PCB bookings declined during August, shipments remain constrained due to supply constraints and other dislocations in the supply chain,” said Shawn DuBravac, IPC’s chief economist. “As a result, the book-to-bill rose to 1.31, a thirty-year record high. The last two months have seen shipments fall far short of what I would expect given recent order volume.”
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.
Suggested Items
I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week
07/26/2024 | Nolan Johnson, I-Connect007This week, I’ve been attending Thailand Electronic Circuits Asia 2024. This is the inaugural event, hosted by Thailand Printed Circuit Association (THPCA) in collaboration with the Hong Kong Printed Circuit Association (HKPCA). Thailand has supported a PCB industry for some time—mostly automotive applications—but the China Plus One dynamic has definitely taken root here.
MKS’ Atotech and ESI Participate in Electronics Circuit Asia in Thailand
07/25/2024 | AtotechMKS Instruments announces its participation at the Electronics Circuit Asia 2024 in Thailand, July 24-26, highlighting its leading brands Atotech® and ESI® and related advances in advanced packaging, package substrate, and printed circuit board manufacturing.
Strip Etch Strip: Episode 9 of On the Line With... Designing for Reality Podcast Now Available
07/25/2024 | I-Connect007Don't miss the latest episode of "On the Line With... Designing for Reality," where we walk through the PCB manufacturing process. At this stage, we have a panel made up of all the internal layers laminated together, through-holes drilled, and the outer layer copper features covered with a protective layer of tin.
Enhance Your Electronics Expertise Through IPC Courses in August
07/25/2024 | Corey Lynn, IPCAs the global leader in standards, training, and certification for the electronics industry, IPC is pleased to announce an array of upcoming online instructor-led courses this August. These courses are designed to equip professionals with the latest skills and knowledge required to excel in the ever-evolving field of electronics manufacturing and design. Whether you want to deepen your expertise in PCB design and manufacturing, understand the intricacies of intermetallic compounds, or learn about counterfeit part mitigation, IPC has a course tailored for you.
Ventec Giga Solutions & Hi-Print Team up to Launch World's First 3-Color Inkjet Printing Solution
07/24/2024 | Ventec International GroupVentec Giga Solutions, Ventec’s value-added PCB equipment division, and leading inkjet printer manufacturer Hi-Print have teamed up to launch the industry’s most cutting-edge inkjet printer for solder mask technology.