Germany’s printed circuit board (PCB) market is showing no signs of recovery: in December 2008, sales were down 34.6% compared with the previous month, according to the German Printed Circuit Association (VdL) and the German Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers Association (ZVEI). December’s incoming orders likewise suffered, reaching only 27% of incoming orders in October. 

However, industry observes attribute the weak sales to the long factory holidays, apart from the fact that business in December is seasonally low compared to the other months of the year. It is to be expected, although, that orders in the coming months will strengthen, provided the industry will show signs if improvement.

Book-to-bill ratio likewise was at the lowest value: 0.68, since 1994. The industry also continues to experience declining workforce numbers. Many expect further job cuts in the next coming months.

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2. German PCB Market Down Nearly 27 percent in November 2008
3. German PCB Market Shows Betterment in June
4. Weak Beginning for German PCB Market in 2009
5. German PCB Market Still Not Recovering From Financial Crisis