BANNOCKBURN, IL — Printed circuit board shipments by North American fabricators fell 3.5% in November and orders plunged 9.9% from last year.

TAIPEI -- Three larger flex circuit fabricators expect December revenues to fall sequentially but still see exceptional fourth-quarter results, DigiTimes is reporting.

Career Technology, Flexium Interconnect and Zhen Ding expect December sales will be slower, the media outlet said, citing market observers but each firm will see overall quarterly revenues rise 20 to 50% sequentially on higher demand for smartphones. All three supply boards to Apple for the iPhone 5.

Flexium's and Zhen Ding's November revenues were company highs.

Zhen Ding is the name of Foxconn's printed circuit board subsidiary.