FYI.
--------MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 23, 1996--The North
American semiconductor equipment industry posted a book-to-bill ratio
of 0.95 in June 1996, following an adjusted ratio of 0.87 for May
1996, it was reported by Semiconductor Equipment and Materials
International (SEMI).
Figures released by SEMI show that worldwide orders for June 1996
reached $1.21 billion, increasing 3 percent from $1.18 billion in
April 1996. Worldwide shipments for June 1996 decreased 6 percent,
to $1.28 billion, resulting in a book-to-bill of 0.95.
"Despite some of the gloomy tales currently circulating, the mood
at the recent SEMICON West trade show suggests there are still
significant opportunities for North American equipment manufacturers
offering advanced semiconductor processing technology and
productivity-enhancing solutions, and for those companies with a
strong presence in the Asian markets," said Elizabeth Schumann, senior
analyst for SEMI.
Schumann added, "If we look at it objectively, total bookings for
North American equipment producers are now about where they were in
the third quarter of 1995, shortly before key Asian companies pumped
up the fourth and first quarter order books with a bubble of bookings
for equipment producers. The DRAM producers are now expected to
maximize productivity to put profits back on track after recent
serious price declines. Many of them will go for 16 megabit shrink
products with tighter design rules as well as moving to an early ramp
up of new 64 megabit products. All of this means new business for
the latest semiconductor design rules not too far down the road."
The book-to-bill ratio is the ratio of three-month average orders
to three-month average shipments for U.S.-based semiconductor
equipment producers. A book-to-bill of 0.95 means $95 in orders were
received for each $100 shipped.
-0-
*T
North American Semiconductor Equipment Book-to-Bill Ratios
November 1995 1.06
December 1995 1.15
January 1996 1.28
February 1996 1.36
March 1996 1.15
April 1996 1.01
May 1996 0.87 (revised)
June 1996 0.95 (preliminary)
*T
-0-
The data contained in this release were compiled by the
independent public accounting firm of Arthur Andersen & Co., without
audit, from data submitted directly by the participants. Arthur
Andersen & Co. can assume no responsibility for the accuracy of the
underlying data. Shipments and bookings figures are three-month
moving averages. Please contact Sandy Fowler, SEMI Market Statistics
coordinator, at 415/940-6973, for more information regarding the SEMI
Market Statistics Program.
Additional information on SEMI products and services can be
obtained on the World Wide Web via www.semi.org. Based in Mountain
View, Calif., SEMI is an international trade association serving
1,700 companies participating in the $55 billion semiconductor and
flat panel display equipment and materials markets. SEMI maintains
offices in Austin, Beijing, Brussels, Hsinchu, Moscow, Tokyo, Seoul,
Singapore, Boston and Washington D.C.
CONTACT:
SEMI
Lisa Anderson, 415/940-6918
e-mail: landerson@semi.org
or
Mathews & Clark
Walter Mathews, 408/736-1120
e-mail: mathwsclrk@aol.com
KEYWORD: CALIFORNIA
INDUSTRY KEYWORD: COMPUTERS/ELECTRONICS COMED
BW0222 JUL 23,1996 |
