North America-based manufacturers of semiconductor equipment posted $1.06 billion in orders worldwide in August 2013 (three-month average basis) and a book-to-bill ratio of 0.98, according to the August EMDS Book-to-Bill Report published today by SEMI.   A book-to-bill of 0.98 means that $98 worth of orders were received for every $100 of product billed for the month.

The three-month average of worldwide bookings in August 2013 was $1.06 billion. The bookings figure is 11.9 percent lower than the final July 2013 level of $1.21 billion, and is 2.7 percent lower than the August 2012 order level of $1.09 billion.

The three-month average of worldwide billings in August 2013 was $1.08 billion. The billings figure is 10.1 percent lower than the final July 2013 level of $1.20 billion, and is 18.7 percent lower than the August 2012 billings level of $1.33 billion.

Read more: Book-to-bill ratio: Six consecutive months above parity

“The SEMI Book-to-Bill ratio slipped below parity as the three-month average bookings declined in August,” said Denny McGuirk, president and CEO of SEMI.  “While some investment activity may be slowing, we see spending by foundries and flash memory suppliers to be key drivers for investments for the remainder of the year and into 2014.”

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, September 2013