[Source: ZVEI/VdL; click picture to enlarge]

The Verband der Leiterplattenindustrie (VDL) and the ZVEI Fachverband Electronic Components and Systems reports that the sales of circuit boards in Germany declined by 4.2 percent in May – compared to the previous month. Compared with May 2008, sales were down by 42 percent. Cumulated sales were 40 percent down compared to the first 5 months of the previous year. The orders received rose in April 2009 by 16 percent which is in large part due to special orders. Compared to May 2008, the value is almost 38 percent lower.

The cumulated orders received in 2009, when compared to the previous year, have decreased by more than half. This unevenness of the orders received and sales results in a Book-to-Bill ration of 0.98. However, this value is not typical and does not reflect a change of the trend. The number of employees continues to fall. More than 20 percent of the workplaces have been lost.