Printed Circuit Design & Fab Online Magazine - Market News

Market News

WALLINGFORD, CT – Amphenol Corp. reported first-quarter sales fell 14% from last year to $660 million.

The company blamed currency exchange expenses for 3% ($23.1 million) of the drop.

AUSTIN, TX -- Dell will enter the smartphone market, continuing the PC-cellphone crossover launched by Apple and furthered by Nokia.

According to a pair of analysts, Dell will launch a smartphone in China by the end of the year, Reuters reported.

Dell has thus far declined comment.

The PC maker, the second largest in the world behind H-P, is supposedly teaming with Hon Hai (Foxconn) subsidiary Chi Mei Communications. Foxconn is a major manufacturer of Dell PCs.

A spokeswoman for Red Office, a software company, said the company is in "preliminary development" of the Dell smartphone operating system, Reuters said.

The phone will be introduced in China, and then launched in the US and Europe, the reports said.

Apple was the first major PC maker to develop a cellphone, and Nokia has indicated plans to build low-cost netbook PC.

TAIPEI, TAIWAN – An increase in netbook, notebook and high-end handset orders will drive second-quarter revenue for PCB makers up 15% to 20%, according to DigiTimes.

HannStar Board has already reported a utilization rate of 70%, with notebook orders extending 3 to 4 weeks. Unitech Printed Circuit Board is expecting four-week order visibility on smartphone-use PCB orders.

Tripod Technology reported March revenues climbed 15% from February, on demand for notebook, opto-electronics boards and HDI boards.

Gold Circuit Electronics (GCE) is close to reaching full utilization at its Changshu, China plant. Its plants in Suzhou, China and Taiwan are reporting 50% and 75% utilization rates respectively.

TAIPEI -- Nan Ya Plastics may adjust copper-clad laminate (CCL) prices in April, based on “rising commodity prices,” according to Digitimes. According to the report, other Asian CCL producers may follow suit.

Crude oil prices and copper prices are significantly down compared to 2008 levels. Copper prices are down nearly 50% compared to the 5-year high experienced last June when copper soared to just over $4.00/LB. Prices on LME and COMAX closed on April 9 at $2.02/LB and $2.07/LB, respectively. LME and COMAX inventories levels are high with a forecast for stable pricing throughout 2009. Shanghai copper posted higher prices on April 9, $2.85/LB. Forecasts reflect declining prices for the remainder of 2009.

In related news, CENS reported that Nan Ya Plastics registered NT$10.993 billion (US$325.23 million) in sales in March, an increase of NT$49 million (US$1.44 million) from the preceding month and that the company noted copper-clad laminate orders had picked up at the end of March and the increase was sustained into April.

BANNOCKBURN, IL – The numbers are in from the Apex trade show in early April and they aren’t pretty. Overall attendance at the Las Vegas show dropped 34.5% year-over-year, according to figures released today by the show producers.

Market News

Amphenol Reports Weaker Q1 Sales

APEX EXPO Numbers Reflect Declining Industry

Report: Dell to Enter Smartphone Market

Report: Notebook Demand Fuels Q2 Revenue

CCL Prices on the Rise?

Apex Numbers Reflect Declining Industry

POPULAR

Press Releases