SEMI book-to-bill ratio takes dive in September
The North American semiconductor equipment industry posted a September book-to-bill ratio of 0.76, representing a significant decline month over month and year over year, according to data from SEMI.
By Suzanne Deffree, Managing Editor, News -- EDN, October 17, 2008
North America-based manufacturers of semiconductor equipment posted $754 million in orders in September 2008 and a book-to-bill ratio of 0.76, according to the September book-to-bill report published by SEMI this week.
The book-to-bill of 0.76 means that $76 worth of orders were received for every $100 of product billed for the month and representing a significant decline month over month and year over year. August's book-to-bill ratio was 0.81, while September 2007 recorded a book-to-bill ratio of 0.81. (See below chart.)
“The continued decline in capex spending is accompanied by a major global economic downturn that may have a significant impact on overall consumer electronics spending,” said Stanley T Myers (pictured), president and CEO of SEMI, in a statement Thursday. “Clearly, concern over these larger economic issues is restraining any immediate capacity investment plans."
According to SEMI's data, the three-month average of worldwide bookings in September was $754 million, 13% less than August's $867 million and 39% less than the $1.24 billion in orders posted in September 2007.
The three-month average of worldwide billings in September 2008 was $990 million, SEMI further reported. The billings figure is 7% less than August's $1.06 billion and about 36% less than the September 2007 billings level of $1.56 billion.
SEMI April - Spetember North American semiconductor equipment industry data
(billing and bookings three-month averages)
| Billings | Bookings | Book-to-bill | |
| April | 1,337.3 | 1,090.3 | 0.82 |
| May | 1,313 | 1,029.3 | 0.78 |
| June | 1,159.8 | 934.2 | 0.81 |
| July | 1,077.2 | 889 | 0.83 |
| August | 1,064.5 | 866.8 | 0.81 |
| Spetember | 990 | 753.6 | 0.76 |
Source: SEMI, October 2008
