SAN JOSE – North American-based semiconductor equipment manufacturers saw orders slip 18% year-over-year in December, the SEMI trade group said today.

For the month, manufacturers posted $1.23 billion in orders, up 9% over November.

The book-to-bill ratio was 0.89, meaning that for every $89 worth of orders were received for every $100 worth of product billed during the month. A ratio greater than 1.0 is considered a sign of an expanding market.

Averaged over three months, billings were flat with revised November figures and down 7% from December 2006.

For the year, North American equipment makers saw a 2% growth in global billings.

In a press release, Stanley T. Myers, president and CEO of SEMI, said, "Most recent booking levels are 18% below one year ago, and reflect the general expectation that capital expenditures will be about 10% lower in 2008."

• Prev
• Next