Bannockburn, Ill. — A new report from IPC — Association Connecting Electronics shows slower growth in the global electronics industry. The summer 2011 edition of IPC’s quarterly business report also indicates slower growth in most national economies.
IPC’s Electronics Industries Market Data Update report finds that China continues to lead the major industrial countries with 9.5 percent growth in gross domestic product (GDP) in the second quarter of 2011, down slightly from first quarter.
In comparison, U.S. economic growth in the second quarter was an annualized 1.3 percent and the euro zone’s growth was 0.2 percent, said IPC. Contributing factors to the slow growth included the end of stimulus programs, the debt crisis in Europe and the high unemployment rate in the United States.
Although numbers in the electronics supply chain are better, growth is still slowing, said IPC. The reports finds that assembly equipment, electronics manufacturing services (EMS) and laminate industries all showed solid year-on-year sales growth. Process consumables grew modestly, while global solder and semiconductor sales in the second quarter were slightly below 2010 numbers.
The IPC Index of North American Performance for the second quarter of 2011 fell to a moderate 4.3, indicating that growth rates have returned to more normal levels, said IPC.
The Electronics Industries Market Data Update is available free of charge to IPC members or by paid subscription to non-members. Members may download the report for free at www.ipc.org/Update. Non-members may subscribe at www.ipc.org/MDU-subscription.