Korean media: South Korean PCB market will shrink by 2.6% in 2020

According to Korean media TheElec, the Korean Printed Circuit Association (KPCA) said that the Korean printed circuit board (PCB) market is expected to shrink by 2.6% to 9.65 trillion won this year.

It is estimated that South Korean PCB manufacturers' sales in the first half of 2020 were 4.58 trillion won, a decrease of 3.1% year-on-year. KPCA said that PCBs for semiconductors are showing growth, but PCBs for smartphones are declining.

According to KPCA analysis, under the influence of the epidemic, the domestic isolation measures adopted by various countries have led to an increase in the demand for personal computers and tablets, and sales are expected to recover in the second half of 2020. The association said PCBs needed to build 5G networks will also stimulate growth.

However, KPCA does not expect strong PCB demand in the second half of the year. PCBs for smartphones will rise from Apple's iPhone and Samsung's Galaxy series. At the same time, PCBs for automotive parts will also grow.

However, due to the severe impact of the epidemic in the first half of the PCB market, the overall market will shrink in 2020.