Semicon equipment manufacturing biz up

SAN JOSE, USA: Based on the new book-to-bill numbers from the United States and Japan, the semiconductor equipment manufacturing business is getting better.

The North America-based manufacturers of semiconductor equipment posted a book-to-bill ratio of 1.06 in November, compared to 1.09 last month, according to SEMI.

According to Stanley Myers, president and CEO of the Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International (SEMI), based in San Jose, California, the United States, after a minor flattening of bookings in October 2009, growth of both bookings and billings remained comparatively slow but steady into November 2009. This trend, Stanley Myers said in a statement, strengthens SEMI’s view of an improving spending forecast as the semiconductor industry moves into 2010.

The 3-month average of bookings worldwide in November 2009 was worth $790.5 million – which is up by 4.5 per cent from the final level in October 2009 of $756.3 million, and about 1 per cent higher than the $783.8 million in orders for November 2008.

According SEMI, the 3-month average of worldwide billings in November 2009 was $743.7 million, which is up by 7.1 per cent from the final October 2009 level of $694.1 million, and down by around 8 per cent from the November 2008 billings level of $806.8 million.

Meanwhile, the Semiconductor Equipment Association of Japan (SEAJ) said in a press release that the 3-month average of worldwide bookings for Japan-based semiconductor equipment makers in November 2009 was 70.016 billion yen ($6.3 billion). This bookings figure is up by 5.4 per cent from the final level in October 2009, and up by 37.9 per cent from the booking level of November 2008.

While, bookings of semiconductor manufacturing equipment worldwide achieved sequential growth and year-to-year growth, billings increased sequentially, but dropped year-to-year, according to trade groups in the semiconductor industry.