Posted by John Keller

BANNOCKBURN, Ill., 5 Jan. 2012. Year-over combined orders for rigid printed circuit boards and flexible circuits manufactured in North America dropped for the eleventh consecutive month in November, say analysts at IPC, the Association Connecting Electronics Industries in Bannockburn, Ill. Orders of North American circuit boards and flexible circuits in November declined 5.6 percent from the same month one year ago. Compared to the previous month, however, combined industry orders of North American circuit boards and flexible circuits in November were up by 3.8 percent, IPC analysts say.

Combined shipments of North American circuit boards and flexible circuits in November, meanwhile, dropped by 6.2 percent from the same month last year, yet compared to the previous month, however, combined industry shipments for November 2011 increased 8.6 percent. Year to date, and combined industry orders were down 8.5 percent, and shipments were down 1.6 percent, IPC says.

“North American PCB sales in November increased over the prior month, which is consistent with seasonal patterns,” says Sharon Starr, IPC market research director. “Sales this year continue to lag behind sales in the same months of 2010."

November orders of North American printed circuit boards alone were down 7.2 percent over the same month last year. Compared to the previous month, however, circuit board orders increased 2.8 percent. Year to date, circuit board orders declined 9.6 percent in November. Shipments of printed circuit boards were down 5.9 percent compared to the same month in 2010, yet compared to the previous month, circuit board shipments increased 8.8 percent. Year to date, rigid PCB shipments decreased 1.7 percent.

Orders of flexible circuits in November were up 13.6 percent compared to the same month in 2010, yet compared to the previous month, flexible circuit orders were up 14.6 percent. Year to date orders of flexible circuits increased 2.7 percent in November. Shipments of flexible circuits in November were down 10 percent compared to November 2011. Compared to the previous month, November shipments of flexible circuits increased 6.2 percent. Year to date, shipments of flexible circuits decreased 0.7 percent.

For more information contact the IPC online at www.ipc.org.