2009 was an extremely difficult year for the electronics food chain. Global PCB sales declined about 20 percent in 2009 compared to 2008 (Chart 1). All major regions are still in "minus territory" with respect to 3/12 growth of PCB shipments (Chart 2). The 3/12 rate of change (recent 3 months/same 3 months last year) will have to reach 1.0 for real market expansion to occur. Based on Chart 2 (with data through autumn) Taiwan/China PCB shipments were down 16 percent, Europe was off 24 percent, Japan down 26 percent, and N. America off 13 percent. The normal 2009 pre-holiday "busy season" provided sequential growth through late autumn, but now we are in the post-Christmas slowdown, especially for consumer driven products.
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