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Bookings Rise in September, Book-to-Bill Hits 1.08
October 31, 2007 |Estimated reading time: 1 minute
BANNOCKBURN, Ill. Shipments in September fell 7.1% from last year, and orders booked jumped 15.2% for rigid and flex PCBs, according to IPC's monthly statistical report. September's book-to-bill ratio climbed to 1.08, maintaining a steady positive streak that began early in 2007.
Rigid PCB shipments are down 6.5%, but bookings are up 16.4%, from the same month last year. Year-to-date, rigid PCB shipments are down 9.9% and bookings are down 10.4%. Compared to the previous month, rigid PCB shipments increased 11.3% and rigid bookings climbed 15.2%. The book-to-bill ratio for the North American rigid PCB industry in September 2007 climbed to 1.08. Rigid PCBs represent an estimated 88% of the total PCB market in North America.
The flexible circuit book-to-bill ratio also hit 1.08 in September. Compared to September 2006, flexible circuit shipments fell 15.8%; bookings slid 2.8%. Year-to-date, flexible circuit shipments are down 6.7% and bookings are up 5.3%. Compared to the previous month, flexible circuit shipments increased 5.8% and flex bookings dropped 10.1%. Bare circuits accounted for about 84% of shipment value of flex circuits in September 2007.
For rigid PCBs and flexible circuits combined, industry shipments in September 2007 decreased 7.1% from September 2006; orders booked increased 15.2%. Year-to-date, combined industry shipments are down 9.7% and bookings are down 9.5%. Compared to the previous month, shipments are up 11.0% and bookings are up 13.6%. In September 2007, 84% of total PCB shipments reported were domestically produced. The combined industry book-to-bill ratio in September 2007 grew to 1.08.
The book-to-bill ratio has remained above parity for several months, indicating near-term growth, said Denny McGuirk, president, IPC. Based on this indicator and seasonal trends, we expect sales to strengthen in the last quarter of this year, he added.
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.