SEMI Reports Disappointing July Book-to-Bill Ratio

Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International (SEMI; Mountain View, CA) has reported that the North American semiconductor equipment industry posted a book-to-bill ratio of 0.69 for July 1998. A book-to-bill of 0.69 means $69 in orders were received for each $100 worth of products shipped.

Three-month average shipments in July 1998 were $1.1 billion. The figure is 11 percent below the June 1998 level, and is 15 percent below the July 1997 level. Three-month average bookings decreased in July 1998 to $757 million. The bookings figure is 19 percent below the June 1998 level, and 47 percent below the July 1997 level.

"The July data confirms a continuation of the softening of equipment orders," said Dick Greene, principal analyst with SEMI.

Based in Mountain View, Calif., SEMI is an international trade association serving more than 2,200 companies participating in the $65 billion semiconductor and flat panel display equipment and materials markets.