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FRANKFURT – German PWB fabricators' shipments fell 8.9% year-over-year in August, according to the two leading domestic trade groups.

Orders were off 30% compared to 2008, VdL and ZVEI said.

The book-to-bill ratio plunged to 0.96, down 29 basis points from August. A ratio of 0.96 indicates 96 euros worth of orders were received for every 100 euros worth of PWBs shipped. A sharp run-up in July orders – which caused the book-to-bill ratio to shoot up from 0.60 to 1.25 – was responsible for the swing. Still, 0.96 is the second-highest mark of the past 12 months.

Year-to-date sales were down 37% from last year through August. Orders, meanwhile, are off 25% from a year ago.

Employment fell 25% from a year ago, the trade groups said.

ARLINGTON, VA -- Worldwide electronic component orders took a breather in October, dipping slightly while the 12-month average remained flat.

SAN JOSE – The Semiconductor Industry Association projects worldwide semiconductor sales will recover in style next year, following a double-digit drop in 2009.

LONDON -- September sales of semiconductors rose 20% worldwide sequentially to $24 billion in the third quarter.

SAN JOSE – Third-quarter worldwide semiconductor sales were $61.9 billion, up 19.7% sequentially, the Semiconductor Industry Association reported today. Sales were down 10.1% year-over-year.

September sales were $20.1 billion, up 8.2% from August.

“Global semiconductor sales in the third quarter were above expectations,” said SIA President George Scalise. “September sales were in line with historical patterns, reflecting increased demand from end-users as they began the build for the holiday season. Unit sales of personal computers and cell phones – the two largest demand drivers for semiconductors – continue to run ahead of earlier forecasts. Meanwhile, demand for semiconductors for industrial applications – a sector that had declined sharply – showed initial signs of recovery. Sales increased in all geographic regions.

“Amid signs that we are in the early stages of recovery in the global economy, semiconductor sales continue to reflect normal seasonal patterns. Sales are running well ahead of the worst-case scenarios projected early in the year, and we are optimistic that total sales for 2009 will be better than our mid-year forecast,” Scalise concluded.

YAVNE, ISRAEL -- Orbotech today reported third-quarter revenues slipped 1.8% sequentially and 2.6% year-over-year, respectively, to $92.3 million.