2021/02/02
        
　　In terms of the development trends of Japanese PCB, the impact of the epidemic has resulted in an increase in "remote work" globally, which has, in turn, helped boost the demand for personal computers and 5G-related applications (5G mobile phones, IoT). As a result, Ibiden and Shinko, who mainly work on carrier boards, have enjoyed double-digit revenue growth this year. In contrast, global car sales have experienced a significant decline. Meiko and CMK, who produce mainly automotive boards, have experienced a double-digit decrease. Due to a decrease in the sale of mobile phones, NOK and Fujikura, who produce mainly FPC, have experienced a slight decline. On the whole, the revenue of Japanese carrier board manufacturers in 2020, assisted by the momentum triggered from carrier board business has stopped its decline. The Japanese carrier board industry can uphold the revenue scale of 2019, with some probable growth in 2021. 
        If we examine, more closely, the changes from 2019 to 2020, we can see that the proportion of PCB production specifications by Japanese factories should go mainly to FPC (representative manufacturers such as NOK and Fujikura), trailed by the substrate (representing manufacturers such as Ibiden, and Shinko), and HDI/PWB (representing manufacturers such as Meiko, and CMK). In 2020, Japanese factories increased the production share of the substrate because of the strong demand for it, by a growth rate of about 6%. On the other hand, HDI/PWB was affected by the decline in demand for automotive boards, so that its share decreased. It is estimated that the product of FPC will remain on top of the list, in 2021, while the focus will gradually shift to the substrate.        
　　In terms of product application and distribution, Japanese factories have primarily focused on the mobile phone and automobile-related products. Mobile applications include carrier boards and HDI products, while automotive applications are primarily HDI/PWB products. In 2020, the policy of "remote work" greatly boosted the demand for personal computers. This boost assisted the growth rate of Japanese factories, reaching a growth rate of 3.2%.  
 Growth can be attributed to related applications. These include CPU, GPU, etc., while carrier board products have received gains. Under the impact of the epidemic, global car sales have declined and the share of automotive carrier boards has dropped by nearly 4%. This category has been recognized as the area of manufacture in which Japanese factories have suffered the most this year.

A download of a complete analysis of 2020 Asia PCB Industry Competitiveness Study-Reorganization and Regeneration of Japan and Korea after the Epidemic.