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, down 3.1% year-on-year. KPCA said that PCBs for semiconductors have grown, but PCBs for smartphones have declined.

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 that the PCB needed to build a 5G network 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 PCB market in the first half of the year, the overall market will shrink in 2020.