DECEMBER 18, 2008–SAN JOSE, CA–North America-based manufacturers of semiconductor equipment posted $805 million in orders in November 2008 (three-month average basis) and a book-to-bill (B:B) ratio of 1.00, according to the November 2008 Book-to-Bill Report published by SEMI. A book-to-bill of 1.00 means that $100 worth of orders were received for every $100 of product billed for the month.

The three-month average of worldwide bookings in November 2008 was $805.4 million. The bookings figure is about 4 percent less than the final October 2008 level of $839.7 million and about 29 percent less than the $1.13 billion in orders posted in November 2007.

The three-month average of worldwide billings in November 2008 was $807.3 million. The billings figure is about 7 percent less than the final October 2008 level of $871.4 million and about 42 percent less than the November 2007 billings level of $1.38 billion.

“The book-to-bill ratio reached parity as billings have declined sharper than bookings over the past six months,” says Stanley T. Myers, president and CEO of SEMI. “2008 is closing with expected declines on the year, which have been further exacerbated by the deepening seismic global economic situation over the past quarter.”

The SEMI book-to-bill is a ratio of three-month moving averages of worldwide bookings and billings for North American-based semiconductor equipment manufacturers. Billings and bookings figures are in millions of U.S. dollars.

The data contained in this release were compiled by David Powell, Inc., an independent financial services firm, without audit, from data submitted directly by the participants. SEMI and David Powell, Inc. assume no responsibility for the accuracy of the underlying data.

Source: SEMI December 2008

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