Date: 23/05/2012

SEMI: Book-to-Bill Ratio of 1.10 posted in April 2012 by N.A. semicon equipment industry

According to the SEMI's April Book-to-Bill report, North America-based manufacturers of semiconductor equipment posted $1.60 billion in orders in April 2012 (three-month average basis) and a book-to-bill ratio of 1.10. A book-to-bill of 1.10 means that $110 worth of orders were received for every $100 of product billed for the month.

The three-month average of worldwide bookings in April 2012 was $1.60 billion. The bookings figure is 10.7 percent higher than the final March 2012 level of $1.45 billion, and is essentially flat compared to orders posted in April 2011.

The three-month average of worldwide billings in April 2012 was $1.45 billion. The billings figure is 13.0 percent more than the final March 2012 level of $1.29 billion, and is 11.0 percent less than the April 2011 billings level of $1.64 billion.

"Equipment orders in April increased to the value last reported one year ago," said Dan Tracy, senior director of Industry Research & Statistics at SEMI. "Since the last book-to-bill report, indications of increased spending have come from both the foundry and packaging subcontractor segments."

The SEMI book-to-bill is a ratio of three-month moving averages of worldwide bookings and billings for North American-based semiconductor equipment manufacturers.

Month Billings (3-month avg) Bookings (3-month.avg) Book-to-Bill
Nov-11 1,176.70 977.2 0.83
Dec-11 1,300.00 1,102.90 0.85
Jan-12 1,239.90 1,187.50 0.96
Feb-12 1,322.80 1,336.90 1.01
March 2012 (final) 1,287.60 1,445.70 1.12
April 2012 (prelim) 1,454.70 1,600.70 1.1
Billings and bookings figures are in millions of U.S. dollars.

Source: SEMI May 2012