SEMI Book-to-Bill Ratio on the Rise

Online staff -- Electronic News, 2/17/2006

North American-based manufacturers of semiconductor equipment posted $1.26 billion in orders in January and a book-to-bill ratio of 0.97, according to Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International (SEMI).
 
January saw $1.26 billion in worldwide bookings, 10 percent higher than the final December 2005 level of $1.14 billion and more than 27 percent higher than the $986 million in orders posted in January 2005.

January worldwide billings was $1.29 billion, more than 5 percent above the final December 2005 level of $1.22 billion and almost 3 percent higher than the January 2005 billings level of $1.26 billion, the industry group reported.

After a drop in September and gradual monthly build-up, January’s book-to-bill ratio is finally on par with August levels, SEMI said.

"January 2006 bookings for North American-based semiconductor equipment providers are at the highest level since November of 2004," said Stanley T. Myers, president and CEO of SEMI, in a statement. "These year-end numbers reinforce the optimism in the capital equipment industry, and indicate continued momentum and steady growth for the year ahead."

A book-to-bill of 0.97 means that $97 worth of orders were received for every $100 of product billed for the month. The SEMI book-to-bill is a ratio of three-month moving averages of worldwide bookings and billings for North American-based semiconductor equipment manufacturers.