SHANGHAI – China’s domestic PCB consumption will fall to RMB97.2 billion in 2009, down 18.2% from a year ago, says Frost & Sullivan.

The firm predicts Chinese demand for PCB production equipment will be RMB19.4 billion in 2009, down about 17.8% year-over-year.
 
Bare board production is estimated to resurge in 2010, and match 2008 volumes in two years.
 
In 2008, the single-, double-sided, multilayer, and flexible PWBs accounted for 2.5%, 6.9%, 73.8%, and 16.8% of the total market, respectively. Sales revenue last year increased 2.2%.
 
Chinese demand will be sparked by 3G communications, digital TV-related products, appliances, and automotive electronics.
 
Capital equipment spending should recover as demand increase. During the recession, most Chinese PCB manufacturers severed equipment procurement budgets and delayed construction of new production lines, says the research firm.

RMB1 = $0.1464