North American semi equipment April sales dip reflects conservative industry mood, SEMI says
SEMI president and CEO Stanley T. Myers noted that a number of fab projects have been put on-hold or delayed until next year, and the current equipment data reflects this activity.
By Ann Steffora Mutschler, Senior Editor -- EDN, May 21, 2008
Reflecting the ongoing conservative mood of the semiconductor industry, North America-based manufacturers of semiconductor equipment posted $1.07 billion in orders in April on a three-month average basis, and a book-to-bill ratio of 0.81 according to Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International (SEMI), the industry association serving the manufacturing supply chains for the microelectronic, display and photovoltaic industries.
A book-to-bill ratio of 0.81 means that $81 worth of orders was received for every $100 of product billed for the month, SEMI reminded.
In terms of worldwide bookings in April, the three-month average was $1.07 billion, which is approximately 8% less than the final March level of $1.17 billion, and almost 32% less than the $1.57 billion in orders posted in April 2007.
The three-month average of worldwide billings in April was $1.32 billion, which is about 2% less than the final March level of $1.34 billion, and about 17% less than the April 2007 billings level of $1.59 billion.
SEMI president and CEO Stanley T. Myers noted that a number of fab projects have been put on-hold or delayed until next year, and the current equipment data reflects this activity.
SEMI Book-to-Bill Ratio (in millions of US dollars)
| Billings (three-month avg.) |
Bookings (three-month avg.) |
Book-to-Bill Ratio | |
| November 2007 | 1,383.2 |
1,130.7 |
0.82 |
| December 2007 | 1,361.7 |
1,156.3 |
0.85 |
| January 2008 | 1,279.3 |
1,141.0 |
0.89 |
| February 2008 | 1,310.8 |
1,205.4 |
0.92 |
| March 2008 (final) | 1,344.9 |
1,165.6 |
0.87 |
| April 2008 (prelim.) | 1,318.9 |
1,073.8 |
0.81 |
(Source: SEMI)
