August 2008 book-to-bill ratio is 0.83

SAN JOSE, USA: North America-based manufacturers of semiconductor equipment posted $884 million in orders in August 2008 (three-month average basis) and a book-to-bill ratio of 0.83 according to the August 2008 Book-to-Bill Report published by SEMI. A book-to-bill of 0.83 means that $83 worth of orders were received for every $100 of product billed for the month.

The three-month average of worldwide bookings in August 2008 was $884 million. The bookings figure is about even with the final July 2008 level of $889 million, and about 36 percent less than the $1.37 billion in orders posted in August 2007.

The three-month average of worldwide billings in August 2008 was $1.07 billion. The billings figure is about one percent less than the final July 2008 level of $1.08 billion, and almost 37 percent less than the August 2007 billings level of $1.68 billion.

“As we approach the end of the third quarter, orders for semiconductor manufacturing equipment remain very weak compared to 2006 and 2007 levels” said Stanley T. Myers, president and CEO of SEMI, “While there are indications of resumed spending in 2009, current economic conditions, industry oversupply and economic uncertainty have resulted in the lowest three month average order level since 2003.”

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 US dollars.

Source: SEMI September 2008

Source: SEMI