Japan April chip equipment orders +56.4 pct yr/yr
Mon May 29, 2006 4:01 AM ET
TOKYO, May 29 (Reuters) - Orders for Japanese chip-making equipment rose 56.4 percent in April, marking the eighth straight month of year-on-year growth, an industry group said on Monday, as microchip makers expand capacity to meet robust demand.
April orders totalled 155.7 billion yen ($1.39 billion), up from 99.5 billion yen a year earlier, the Semiconductor Equipment Association of Japan said.
In a reflection of the strength of demand for microchip-making tools, Tokyo Electron Ltd. (8035.T: Quote, Profile, Research) earlier this month reported a 16 percent gain in annual profit and forecast further growth this year. The company is the world's second-largest maker of semiconductor-making gear after Applied Materials Inc. (AMAT.O: Quote, Profile, Research).
Apart from Tokyo Electron, potential beneficiaries of the upswing in chip equipment demand include Advantest Corp. (6857.T: Quote, Profile, Research), the world's largest maker of chip testers, Disco Corp. (6146.T: Quote, Profile, Research) and Dainippon Screen Manufacturing Co. Ltd. (7735.T: Quote, Profile, Research). ($1=112.25 Yen) |
