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EL SEGUNDO, CA – Global revenue for large-sized (10" or greater) LCD panels will rise to $66 billion this year, up 22.2% from 2006, says iSuppi Corp. This represents a 6% increase compared to iSuppli’s previous forecast.

iSuppli raised its forecast for large LCD shipments, citing rising demand, tightening supply and increasing prices.

Worldwide shipments are forecast to reach 353.8 million units, up 25.2% year-over-year. iSuppli previously predicted shipments of 350.1 million units.

Demand is rising from the major markets for such panels: televisions, desktop monitors and notebook PCs, says the research firm. Meanwhile, inventories remain under control. This combination of rising demand and constrained supply is causing overall panel prices to increase, says iSuppli.

This strength should continue during the coming years, says the company. The large LCD panel market is expected to expand to 597.6 million units by 2011, up 2% from iSuppli’s previous forecast. Revenue will reach $102 billion in 2011, up 6% from the prior prediction. This will mark the first year the global large-sized LCD panel market will exceed $100 billion, says the firm.

iSuppli has upgraded its forecast of global large-sized LCD-TV panel shipments in 2007 to 77.5 million units. The firm predicts LCD-TV panel shipments will rise to 180.45 million units in 2011, up 5% from the previous forecast.

The price gap has closed between 32-inch and 40/42-inch panels, which will contribute to higher consumer adoption rates of 40-inch and larger LCD TVs, says iSuppli.

A strong recovery in the desktop PC monitor market in the second and third quarters is expected to drive sales to 163.2 million units this year, up 14% year-over-year.

The notebook PC LCD panel market is expected to reach 99.6 million units in 2007 and 161.5 million units in 2011, driven by lower prices, the rise of wireless capabilities in portable computers and the shift to larger display sizes, says iSuppli.

BANNOCKBURN, IL – May rigid PCB shipments at North American fabricators fell 14.8%, while bookings dropped 12.2% from last year, according to the latest data from IPC.

The combined book-to-bill ratio remained just above parity at 1.01.

Shipments of all PCB types fell 14.5% compared to last year, and orders decreased 11.2%. Year to date, shipments are down 10.3%, and bookings are off 15.6%. Compared to the previous month, combined industry shipments are up 7.2%, and bookings are up 1.9%.

The book-to-bill for rigid PCBs dipped to 0.98. That means that for every $100 worth of boards sold, $98 worth were ordered. IPC says the ratio indicates rigid PCB sales over the next two to three months will likely continue at roughly the same level as in the first half of the year.

Year to date, rigid PCB shipments are down 10.9%, and bookings are down 17.7%. Sequentially, rigid shipments rose 6.7% and bookings increased 2.1%.

Flex circuit demand is on the rise, as the book-to-bill climbed to 1.32 in May. Shipments were down 10.1%, but bookings rose 2.9% year-over-year.

Year to date, flexible circuit shipments are up 0.7%, and bookings are up 23.8%. Shipments increased 15.7% over April, while bookings fell 0.4%.