To All, (does any one have the disaggregated data??)
Chip equipment index slips
with drop of orders and sales
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--Orders for North American
semiconductor production equipment fell 10% in January to $1.38
billion compared to bookings of $1.53 billion in December,
according to new market data released by a trade group here. Sales
of systems also slipped 5% to $1.47 billion compared to $1.54
billion, said Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International
(SEMI).
The drop in capital equipment orders and sales pushed SEMI's
book-to-bill ratio to its lowest level in more than a year at 0.94,
meaning $94 in new bookings were received for $100 worth of
products shipped by North American suppliers.
SEMI's three-month moving averages for semiconductor equipment
orders and shipments remained higher than a year ago, but the new
report reflects the strong impact of Asia's financial crisis on plant
investments. SEMI also said persistent weakness in DRAMs has
caused Asian chip makers to reassess and scale back capital
spending at the start of 1998.
"Although chip makers may reevaluate capital spending for new
capacity, purchases of advanced equipment for next-generation
device technology are expected to continue, even in the DRAM
business," said Dick Greene, principal analyst with SEMI.
In January, orders for semiconductor equipment were 24% higher
than a year ago, while shipments were 42% above 1996 levels, said
SEMI. The trade group also revised its final December and
November book-to-bill ratios to parity at 1.0, up from the
preliminary figures of 0.97 and 0.98. |
