Worldwide chip tool sales inch up in 2Q

August 15, 2006 – Worldwide sales of semiconductor manufacturing equipment rose just a fraction in 2Q06 from the previous quarter, but a big push in orders suggests significant demand for new tools, according to new data from SEMI.

Overall, billings in 2Q06 were $9.58 billion, an increase of 0.2% from 1Q06, but up 27% from 2Q05. Bookings, meanwhile, showed much better gains, up 23% sequentially and about 60% higher than a year ago, to $11.53 billion. SEMI president Stanley Myers noted that 2Q06 billings were at the highest levels since 1Q01.

By geography, China and Rest-of-World regions led the way in growth both vs. the prior quarter and year-ago periods (83% and 15%, and 193% and 30%, respectively). Taiwan enjoyed 11% sales growth from 1Q06 to 2Q06, while both Korea and Japan declined sequentially. Year-on-year, every region showed positive growth, with most regions in a pack at around ~30% growth, led by North America and Rest-of-World.

Quarterly billings data (US $M)

Region……………2Q06……………vs. 1Q06……………vs. 2Q05

Japan…………………….$1924…………..$2331 (-17%)…………$1584 (21%)
North America…………..1836……………1795 (2%)………………1400 (31%)
Taiwan…………………….1763……………1589 (11%)…………….1619 (9%)
Korea………………………1518……………1774 (-14%)……………1241 (22%)
Europe………………………954……………..920 (4%)………………..799 (19%)
Rest of World………………907……………..788 (15%)………………696 (30%)
China………………………..693……………..380 (83%)………………236 (193%)
TOTAL……………………..9594……………9577 (0.2%)……………7576 (27%)

Source: SEMI, SEAJ

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