TAOYUAN CITY, TAIWAN – Sales by Taiwanese printed circuit board fabricators fell 3.4% year-over-year in the first quarter, says the Taiwan Printed Circuit Association (TPCA). Total sales reached about $4.4 billion in the period, the association added.

Taiwanese companies’ production in mainland China accounts for 62.5% of the revenues.

It is estimated the output value in the second quarter will reach $4.9 billion.

The decline in sales of mobile phones made by US-based companies has led to the decline in the demand for flexible PCBs made by Taiwanese firms, says TPCA. Competition among automotive PCB manufacturers is increasing, and unexpected growth of rigid-flex PCBs still cannot keep up. TPCA expects manufacturers of flex PCBs may gradually win orders from US-based mobile phone companies at the end of the second quarter.

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