North American equipment companies saw orders of US$278.9 million in March, generating a book-to-bill of 0.61, up from 0.49 in February, due to low levels in actual billings. According to SEMI, equipment bookings remain below levels able to support profitable operations for many suppliers.
“The sharp decline in bookings levels has abated," said Stanley T. Myers, President and CEO of SEMI. However, the improvement in the March book to bill ratio is primarily attributed to reduced billings, and semiconductor equipment bookings remain at levels below that needed to support a healthy supply chain."
The bookings figure is about eight percent greater than the final February 2009 level of $258.4 million, and about 76 percent less than the $1.17 billion in orders posted in March 2008.
The three-month average of worldwide billings in March 2009 was $455.3 million. The billings figure is about 13 percent less than the final February 2009 level of $525.5 million, and about 66 percent less than the March 2008 billings level of $1.34 billion.