TAIPEI, TAIWAN – Market watchers are predicting a weak first quarter for IC substrate makers. Kinsus Interconnect Technologies and Nan Ya Printed Circuit Board (NPC) are expected to have a 20% to 30% drop in sales. Because of diversifying customers and products, observers are predicting only a 10% to 15% decline for Phoenix Precision Technology (PPT).
 
Estimates show a 25% decrease in fourth-quarter sales in 2008 for Kinsus and NPC. PPT is expected to show a 20% decline. Chu-Ching Hu, chairman of PPT, expects the company will see up to a 10% decline in January sales and a first-quarter loss.