TAIPEI -- Taiwan's printed circuit board fabricators will continue to grow in 2018 but at a slower rate, says a new report from the Taiwan Printed Circuit Association.

The trade group says 2018 production will inch up 2% year-over-year to NT$630.8 billion ($20.5 billion).

Still, at that level, this year's revenue will top 2017's record mark.

First-half sales by Taiwan-based PCB fabricators in China and Taiwan were up 9% over a year ago to NT$287.8 billion. Communications end-products, including handsets, base stations and other telecom gear, led the way, up nearly 23%. PCBs for PCs were up 3.6% during the period. PCBs for consumer electronics dropped 6.3%.

ASPs will drop in the second half, TPCA added.

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