Semiconductor tool orders slide below billion-dollar mark in September

October 21, 2011 — Awaiting "stability in the overall economic outlook," semiconductor device makers spent 40.4% less with North America-based manufacturers of semiconductor fab equipment year-over-year in September 2011. The September book-to-bill ratio published by SEMI fell to 0.75.

Worldwide bookings in September 2011 totaled $984.8 million, a 15.3% drop month-to-month, tipping below the billion mark. Year-over-year, bookings fell 40.4% ($1.65 billion in September 2010).

Worldwide billings from North American semiconductor fab tool makers in September 2011 was $1.31 billion, 9.8% less than August and 18.4% below September 2010 billings.

Bookings nearly reached the level last seen in late 2009, noted Stanley T. Myers, president and CEO of SEMI. Myers says that device makers "are investing in advanced technology," but are waiting out macro-economic uncertainties before making broader investments.

Table. 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. Source: SEMI October 2011.
  Billings (3-mo. avg) Bookings (3-mo. avg) Book-to-Bill
April 2011 1,635.4 1,602.4 0.98
May 2011  1,669.2 1,623.0 0.97
June 2011  1,640.2 1,540.4 0.94
July 2011  1,521.2 1,298.2 0.85
Aug 2011 (final)  1,457.7 1,162.4 0.80
Sept 2011 (prelim) 1,314.4 984.8 0.75

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.

The data are contained in a monthly Book-to-Bill Report published by SEMI. The report tracks billings and bookings worldwide of North American-headquartered manufacturers of equipment used to manufacture semiconductor devices, not billings and bookings of the chips themselves. The Book-to-Bill report is one of three reports included with the Equipment Market Data Subscription (EMDS).

SEMI is the global industry association serving the nano- and microelectronic manufacturing supply chains. For more information, visit www.semi.org.

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