April 14, 2005 – Global sales of chipmaking equipment in February fell 2.5% from a year earlier to 2,429.91 million dollars, an industry survey showed Wednesday, according to Jiji Press Ltd. It was the first year-on-year drop in 19 months, according to data compiled by the Semiconductor Equipment Association of Japan and Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International.

The decline reflected slow order placements by semiconductor makers since the middle of 2004, SEAJ officials said. Year-on-year falls in sales are expected to continue in March and later, the officials said. By region, sales in Japan, Taiwan and China decreased 7.7%, 47.5%, and 35.8%, respectively. In South Korea, sales jumped 57.9%. Sales in Europe and North America grew 30.6% and 6.5%, respectively.