SEMI: Bookings rise y/y for first time since May 2007, industry continues to improve

North America-based manufacturers of semiconductor equipment posted $732.8 million in orders last month and an improved book-to-bill ratio of 1.17, according to SEMI's September book-to-bill report.

By Suzanne Deffree, Managing Editor, News -- Electronic News, 10/21/2009

The semiconductor industry's overall situation continued to improve in September, according to the latest data from SEMI.

North America-based manufacturers of semiconductor equipment posted $732.8 million in orders in September and a book-to-bill ratio of 1.17, according to SEMI's September book-to-bill report.

A book-to-bill of 1.17 means that $117 worth of orders were received for every $100 of product billed for the month. The August book-to-bill ratio was 1.06.

The September bookings figure is 19.3% greater than the final August level of $614.5 million and 12.8% greater than the $649.9 million in orders posted in September 2008.

Meanwhile, billings in September were $624.6 million, a 7.7% improvement on the August level of $580 million but nearly 33% less than the August 2008 billings level of $927.3 million.

“Equipment bookings increased considerably throughout the third quarter as the semiconductor industry continued to improve overall," said Dan Tracy, senior director of industry research and statistics at SEMI, in a statement. “September 2009 is also the first time since May 2007 that year-over-year bookings have risen and is in-line with the gradually improving capital spending outlook for the remainder of this year and into next year.”

According to SEMI data, the book-to-bill ration has been on the rise since February when a book-to-bill ratio of 0.49 was reported following January's 0.47. The ratio climbed above parity for the first time since January 2007 in July.