The fifth straight month of equipment bookings above US$1 billion has been reported by SEMI. North America-based semiconductor equipment suplliers posted US$1.48 billion in orders in May 2010 (three-month average basis) and a book-to-bill ratio of 1.12. The bookings figure is up 2.8 percent from the final April 2010 level of US$1.44 billion, and is 415.3 percent above the US$287.8 million in orders posted in May 2009. Orders have increased now for 14 consecutive months.
"Orders have increased for 14 consecutive months, commensurate with the turnaround in the market and the increase in announced capital spending plans," said Stanley T. Myers, President and CEO of SEMI. "SEMI members throughout the supply chain are working hard to fulfill customer orders and meet this rising demand.”
The three-month average of worldwide billings was US$1.32 billion in May, an increase of 3.1% from the final April 2010 level of US$1.28 billion, and is 236% above the May 2009 billings level of US$392.6 million.