SAN JOSE -- North American-based
manufacturers of semiconductor equipment posted $1.1 billion in orders
in October on a three-month average basis. The book-to-bill ratio was 0.95, according to
SEMI.
A book-to-bill of 0.95 means that $95 worth of orders were
received for every $100 of product billed for the month.
The three-month worldwide bookings average was up 12% over revised September
levels and 20% below October 2004.
The three-month average of worldwide billings in October 2005 was $1.16
billion, up 6% from revised September
figures but down 19% from last year.
The numbers also include revised August bookings.
"Bookings and billings for North American based semiconductor equipment
providers have been stable for the past six months," said Stanley T.
Myers, president and CEO of SEMI. "It is encouraging to see the recent
improvement in bookings as the industry continues to ramp 300 mm
production and is beginning to invest in 65 nanometer technology."