Semiconductor book-to-bill dips to 0.93
AUGUST 4--North American-based manufacturers of semiconductor equipment posted $720 million in orders in June 2003 and a book-to-bill ratio of 0.93, according to Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International (SEMI; San Jose, CA;www.semi.org). A book-to-bill of 0.93 means that $93 of new orders was received for every $100 of products billed for the month.
The three-month average of worldwide bookings in June 2003 was $720 million, slightly below the revised May 2003 level of $724 million, and 39% below the $1.17 billion in orders posted in June 2002.
The three-month average of worldwide billings in June 2003 was $771 million, 4% below the revised May 2003 level of $805 million, and 17% below the June 2002 billings level of $927 million.
"Billings by North American-based semiconductor capital-equipment suppliers slid to the lowest point since January 2002 as the bookings level stabilized," says Stanley Myers, president and CEO of SEMI. He added that higher chip-production capacity levels and higher average chip prices are fueling a growing confidence that a recovery for the equipment market will begin in the second half of 2004.