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Market Outlook: Resilience: Electronic Equipment Demand Holds in a Difficult Economy

Date: 
May 1, 2008
Article Link: 
http://www.circuitree.com/CDA/Articles/Column/BNP_GUID_9-5-2006_A_10000000000000325946

The global electronics industry took a hit in early 2008. A combination of U.S. financial woes (which ultimately impacted consumer and business spending worldwide), the normal post-Christmas seasonal consumer electronics slowdown, Lunar new year plant closings in Southeast Asia, and heavy February snows in China combined to create a sharp downturn throughout the food chain. World PCB production plunged in January and February (Chart 1) and semiconductor shipments followed suit (Chart 2). The chip shipment downturn (dollar value) was further amplified by severe DRAM price degradation...