BANNOCKBURN, IL — North American fabricators of printed circuit boards reported July shipments rose 25.2% year-over-year on a 33.9% jump in bookings.

Year to date, shipments are up 18.7% and bookings are 33.4% higher, said IPC, the trade group that compiles the data. Shipments and bookings were down sequentially, however, falling 13.1% and 16%, respectively.

The book-to-bill ratio was 1.11, down 10 basis points for the second straight month. The ratio is calculated by dividing the value of orders booked over the past three months by the value of sales billed during the same period. A ratio of more than 1.0 is considered an indicator for growth over the next two to three months.

By board type, rigid shipments were up 23.9% while bookings increased 34.4% year-over-year. Year to date, rigid shipments were up 19.9% and bookings are 34.9% higher. Sequentially, rigid shipments fell 14.7% and bookings decreased 16.9%. The book-to-bill ratio was down 10 basis points to 1.11.

Flexible circuit shipments were up 38.2%, and bookings were up 28.8% over last year. To date, flex shipments increased 5.8% and bookings were up 17.5%. Compared to the previous month, flexible circuit shipments went up 4.6% and flex bookings declined 4.9%. The book-to-bill slipped 80 basis points to 1.06.

Book-to-bill ratios and growth rates for rigid PCBs and flexible circuits combined are heavily affected by the rigid PCB segment. Rigid PCBs represent an estimated 89 percent of the current PCB industry in North America, according to IPC’s World PCB Production and Laminate Market Report.

In July, 83% of PCB shipments reported were domestically produced. Flexible circuit manufacturers said bare boards accounted for about 77% of their shipment value reported for the month. Assembly and other services make up a large and growing segment of flexible circuit producers’ businesses. This figure is also sensitive to changes in the survey sample, which may occur at the beginning of each calendar year.

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