The recovery in equipment sales continued for the fourth consecutive month with North America-based manufacturers of semiconductor equipment posted $1.33 billion in orders in February 2012. The SEMI book-to-bill went over parity at 1.03 for the first time since September 2011 and the best bookings since August 2011.
“For the first time since September 2010, the book-to-bill ratio is over parity as three-month average bookings continued to increase,” said Denny McGuirk, president and CEO of SEMI. “Investments in advanced process technologies for NAND Flash, microprocessor, and foundry are key spending drivers for the year.”
SEMI reported that the three-month average of worldwide bookings in February 2012 was 12.2% more than the final January 2012 level of US$1.19 billion, and is 16.5% below the $1.60 billion in orders posted in February 2011.
The three-month average of worldwide billings in February 2012 was US$1.32 billion. The billings figure is 6.4% more than the final January 2012 level of US$1.24 billion, and is 28.3% less than the February 2011 billings level of $1.84 billion.
The bookings recovery is also the steepest seen since the last major up-cycle that started in mid-2009.