BANNOCKBURN, IL — Total North American printed circuit board shipments in May were up 5.6% year-over-year, according to IPC. Year-to-date sales growth was 12.3%. Sequentially, May shipments increased 2.5%.

May PCB orders increased 5.6% year-over-year and 0.5% sequentially, bringing year-to-date order growth to 4.3%.

Sales and order growth in May remained positive, but the book-to-bill ratio dipped below parity to 0.99. A ratio of more than one suggests current demand is ahead of supply, which is a positive indicator for sales growth over the next three to twelve months.

“Although sales and order growth continued in May for the North American PCB industry, slowing order growth rates pushed the book-to-bill ratio below parity,” said Sharon Starr, IPC’s director of market research. “This was the first time since January 2017 the industry registered a book-to-bill ratio below parity). Recent ratios hovering around parity indicate continued but slower growth in the coming months.”

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