Handset PCB manufacturers are experiencing weaker-than-expected demand, and are bracing for a low sales in the first-quarter, according to industry sources.

Orders from Motorola remain low, while demand from other handset vendors such as Apple, Nokia, Sony Ericsson, and High Tech Computer (HTC) are not reaching previously expected levels, with Nokia orders in the first quarter expected to fall 10% because of low demand from China.

Compeq Manufacturing, who saw fourth-quarter handset PCB shipments jump to 54 million units, is likely to see first-quarter shipments drop about 25% to 40 million units, disclosing that orders are not as strong as the company estimates at the end of 2007, the sources said.

Unitech Printed Circuit Board previously had only expected a 5% drop in first-quarter sales, but has now adjusted that figure to between 5-10%, commenting that the handset market will only grow 10% in 2008, with that growth tied to orders from major vendors.
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