SEMI: February book-to-bill remained steady

By Colleen Taylor -- Electronic News, 3/16/2007

North American-based manufacturers of semiconductor equipment continued the strong start to the year in February, posting a book-to-bill ratio of 1.05 for the month, according to the latest report published by Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International (SEMI).

While the three-month average of worldwide bookings in February was $1.65 billion, about 1 percent under the final January level of $1.67 billion, it was about 28 percent above the $1.29 billion in orders posted in February 2006.

The three-month average of worldwide billings in February followed a similar patter. At $1.58 billion, billings came in about 2 percent under the final January level of $1.60 billion, but were 23 percent higher than the February 2006 billings level of $1.28 billion.

January's numbers had already started off the year on the right foot for the industry. The month's bookings figure was about 14 percent higher than the final December level of $1.52 billion and about 39 percent above the $1.23 billion in orders posted in January 2006. January's book-to-bill ratio was 1.06.

"The three month average for North American bookings and billings remained steady in February," Stanley T. Myers, president and CEO of SEMI, said in a statement Thursday. "Though semiconductor industry market trends have slowed some in the first part of 2007, current equipment data are at levels well above one year ago."