SEMI reports strong December book-to-bill

By Colleen Taylor -- Electronic News, 1/19/2007

After a rough November, North American-based manufacturers of semiconductor equipment rallied to end 2006 on a positive note.

Chip equipment makers posted $1.52 billion in orders in December on a three-month average basis, and a positive book-to-bill ratio of 1.05 according to the latest book-to-bill report published today by industry group the Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International (SEMI). A book-to-bill of 1.05 means that $105 worth of orders were received for every $100 of product billed for the month.

The three-month average of worldwide bookings in December 2006 was $1.52 billion, about seven percent higher than the November level of $1.43 billion and 33 percent above the $1.14 billion in orders posted in December 2005.

The three-month average of worldwide billings in December 2006 was $1.45 billion. The billings figure is about two percent less than the final November 2006 level of $1.49 billion and over 18 percent higher than the December 2005 billings level of $1.22 billionhttp://www.edn.com/article/CA6300994.html?partner=enews.

"The three month average trends for North American semiconductor equipment bookings and billings diverged in December, with a slight decrease in billings and an uptick in bookings." Stanley T. Myers, president and CEO of SEMI, said in a statement. "However, bookings have declined seven percent when viewed quarter over quarter."