FRANKFURT – PCB manufacturers in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland posted a 12.8% drop in second quarter sales year-over-year and 10.6% sequentially, according to ZVEI. Overall, the first half of the year was 10% weaker.

The biggest declines in sales (25 to 30%) were recorded by manufacturers whose main customer is in the automotive industry, says ZVEI.

Orders since the beginning of the year have fallen 15.8%. In the last three quarters, companies in the automotive industry have additionally adjusted part of their previous orders, as demand has declined.

The book-to-bill ratio reached 0.93 in the second quarter.

The number of employees was down 0.6% compared to the second quarter of 2018 but remained constant sequentially.

The global economy is losing momentum, while trade and investment are declining, says ZVEI. Buying behavior is changing as US tariffs on imports from China make products more expensive for American consumers. Overall, global uncertainty prevails over the economic conditions and further development.

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