BANNOCKBURN, IL — After four years of declines, the North American printed circuit board market might be in for a turnaround in 2015.

PCB sales by domestic fabricators declined last year for the fourth consecutive year, on slipping demand for rigid PCBs, IPC said. But a recovery might be in store, according to the trade group's annual forecast.

Meanwhile, the flexible circuit market has grown steadily for the past three years.

Military and aerospace now make up the largest end-market for PCBs in North America, overtaking communications.

US imports of PCBs held steady in 2014, while PCB exports increased. A slight decrease in on-shore PCB production was seen in 2014, but the forecast is for modest growth of domestic PCB production in 2015 through 2017.

The PCB production forecast data are based analysis by Dr. Hayao Nakahara.

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