(February 17, 2006) San Jose, CA &#8212 In January 2006, North American-based semiconductor equipment manufacturers posted $1.26 billion in orders on a 3-month average basis and a book-to-bill ratio of 0.97, according to SEMI’s January 2006 Book-to-Bill Report. January 2006’s book-to-bill shows that $97 in orders were received for every $100 of product billed for the month.

Also on a 3-month average, worldwide bookings in January 2006 were $1.26 billion; 10% higher than the final December 2005 level of $1.14 billion, and over 27% higher than the $986 million in orders posted in January 2005. Worldwide billings in January 2006 was $1.29 billion; over 5% above December 2005’s level of $1.22 billion, and almost 3% higher than January 2005’s $1.26 billion.

“January 2006 bookings for North American-based semiconductor equipment providers are at the highest level since November of 2004,” says Stanley T. Myers, president and CEO of SEMI. “These year-end numbers reinforce the optimism in the capital equipment industry, and indicate continued momentum and steady growth for the year ahead.”