TAIPEI -- Struggling world economies and disrupted supply chains will take their toll on PCB market growth in 2012, the chairman of a top trade group said this week.

Worldwide printed circuit board sales growth will slow to under 5% in 2012, down from the forecasted 7.4% this year, said Taiwan Printed Circuit Association chairman Simon Chen.

Chen made his remarks at the TPCA Show this week, one of the world's largest PCB trade shows.

Chen said the long-term outlook is better, noting demand for smartphones, PCs and other consumer durables.