February 21, 2001–San Jose, California–Semiconductor equipment manufacturers based in North America posted $1.9 billion in orders in January 2001 and a book-to-bill ratio of 0.81, Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International (SEMI) reports in its ‘February 2001 Express Report.’ Orders were 19% lower than shipments for the month.

“In light of uncertainty about global macroeconomic conditions, consumer spending, and average selling prices of semiconductor devices, chipmakers are exercising greater caution in their capital investments,” says Stanley T. Meyers, president and CEO of SEMI. “It is safe to say that most industry watchers had fully anticipated a contraction in orders, however the magnitude of the decline represents a more immediate response on the part of chipmakers to curtail spending than we saw in the previous cycle.”

The 3-month average of worldwide bookings in January 2001 was $1.9 billion. This figure is 21% below the revised December 2000 level of $2.4 billion, and is 15% below the $2.2 billion in orders posted in January 2000.

The 3-month average of worldwide shipments in January 2001 was $2.3 billion. This is 2% below the revised December 2000 level of $2.4 billion, but 46% above the January 2000 shipments level of $1.6 billion.