According to the latest survey results from IPC's North American PCB Statistics Program, the total shIPMent of printed circuit boards (PCBs) in North America in July 2024 decreased significantly by 21.2% compared to the same period last year. This number has attracted widespread attention from industry insiders, demonstrating the severe challenges faced by the PCB industry in the current economic environment.

The data shows that the order to shipment ratio in July was 0.99, which means that the shipment quantity is almost equal to the order quantity. However, despite the relatively close proportion, the shipment volume in July decreased by 14% compared to June. This trend indicates that although the order volume has decreased, the decline in shipment volume is more pronounced.

Further analysis of order data shows that the PCB order volume in July decreased by 25.4% compared to the same period last year, and also decreased by 17.3% compared to the previous month. Shawn DuBravac, Chief Economist of IPC, stated that "July 2024 was a difficult month for the PCB industry, with significantly weak shipments and orders." This viewpoint highlights the tension between weakened market demand and insufficient production capacity.

Compared to the data in June, the situation is different. In June 2024, the total PCB shipments in North America increased slightly by 1.0% compared to the same period last year, and increased by 9.1% compared to the previous month's shipments. However, the order volume in June decreased by 2.7% compared to the same period last year, while it increased by 3.2% compared to May. This indicates that although the shipment volume in June performed well, there is still uncertainty in the order situation.

When analyzing the market dynamics in June, Shawn DuBravac pointed out that "the PCB industry has had strong shipments this month, with orders exceeding shipments, which has slightly lowered the order to shipment ratio of PCBs." He added that although overall production remains healthy, there are still potential challenges to maintaining supply-demand balance in the coming months. Obviously, market volatility and changes in demand have a profound impact on industry forecasts and production plans.

Overall, the North American PCB industry experienced a volatile market environment in the first half of 2024. With the increasing uncertainty of the global economic situation, many related companies are re evaluating their strategies to cope with the upcoming challenges. Market analysts point out that technological upgrades, production efficiency improvements, and supply chain optimization will be the key areas that companies must focus on in the coming months.

In addition, with the rapid development of emerging markets such as 5G, Internet of Things (IoT), and electric vehicles, the future potential of the PCB industry still exists. However, companies need to be flexible in responding to market changes and maintain keen market insight in order to seek new growth opportunities in a fiercely competitive environment.

Overall, the North American PCB industry is facing both severe challenges and opportunities after experiencing fluctuating market performance. As industry participants work together to address the current challenges, the future market trends are still worth looking forward to.

Fushite Technology focuses on the field of power devices, providing customers with power devices such as IGBT and IPM modules, as well as MCU and touch chips. It is an electronic component supplier and solution provider with core technology.