SEMI book-to-bill ratio takes dive in September

By Suzanne Deffree, Managing Editor, News -- 10/17/2008

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
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