Total reported sales for all relay categories in North America for the first quarter of 2013 were 1% lower than reported in the previous quarter and 12% below same quarter of 2012. Sales units for Q1’13 were unchanged versus units sold in Q4 and 5% less than Q1’12.

The total booking dollars reported for all relay categories in North America for Q1’13 came in more than the previous by 17%, and higher than Q1’12’s total bookings by 9%. The first quarter’s book-to-bill ratio for dollars was 1.106. Booking units in Q1’13 ran 27% above the in Q4. The fourth quarter’s book-to-bill ratio for units was 1.094.

In the first quarter of 2013 sales were down in dollars, units, and ASP for EMRs while SSRs improved in units compared to Q4. In total dollars decreased about 1% while units were nearly unchanged and the ASP moved down 1%. Comparisons to the same quarter last year show both units and dollars down for EMR and SSR. In total dollars fell 12%, units dropped 5%, as the ASP moved 7% lower.

Sales Growth by Relay Category


Bookings Growth by Relay Category
Bookings moved higher in Q1 compared to Q4 for all measures except ABP. In total booking dollars and units have moved up 17% and 27%. The ABP for EMRs slipped just over 4% while SSR’s dropped 31%. The comparison to Q1 of 2012 shows dollars and units up for EMR’s and down for SSR dollars. The ABP for EMRs fell 19% while SSRs moved down more than 28%.


The graph below shows total quarterly indexed sales and bookings in dollars and units for the reported data. Sales dollars and units were relatively flat the first three quarters of 2012, fell in the last quarter and held unchanged in Q1 of this year. In the first three quarters of 2012 booking dollars and units rose then fell in Q4 and recovered in Q1’13.

chart1

The overall selling prices have moved lower by 8% over the past five quarters. Booking prices have dropped about 25% in the same period. 

chart2

Note the price graph above has trends included for the average selling and average booking prices. All of the price graphs will include either linear or polynomial regression analysis to show the trend of prices.

Book-to-bill dollars and units trended up since Q1’12. The ratio of average booking to selling prices has general moved lower but remains at or above 1.0.

chart3

Michael Schwert

Michael Schwert

Michael is the founder of Cumulus, Inc. He has more than 30 years of marketing and sales as well as design experience in the electronic and electrical component industry. Prior to founding Cumulus, he was Director of Marketing for Cherry Electrical Products and held other marketing management positions with Panduit, BRK Electronics, and Ideal Industries.

Cumulus provides market information and consulting services for the global electronic components industry. The company offers three publications: Switch Tracks, a quarterly report with market information on component switches; the Relay Report, a quarterly report with market information on component relays; and Market Notes, a monthly report on sales, bookings, and business conditions in the relay and switch market. Cumulus also manages projects that help leading global suppliers in the relay and switch industry to develop new products and reach new markets.

Schwert provides MarketEYE with monthly articles that include timely and accurate market information for the electromechanical component sector of the electronics industry.

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