Semiconductor equipment maker orders are at 3-year high

North American semiconductor capital equipment makers saw orders rise 6% from January to February, reaching their highest levels in three years. Orders for equipment reached $1.31 bil, up 6% from the revised January level of $1.23 bil, and up 72% last February, according to Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International. Shipments rose 11% to $1.15 bil from January's $1.03 bil level. The ratio of orders to shipments, known as the book-to-bill ratio, was 1.14 in February, signifying that for every $100 of products shipped, $114 in new orders were received.

Billings Bookings Book-to-Bill
September 2003            811.1    778.8    0.96
October 2003              866.5    871.0    1.01
November 2003             876.4    923.3    1.05
December 2003             962.9    1,181.1  1.23
January 2004  (final)     1,033.7  1,226.1  1.19
February 2004 (prelim.)   1,148.1  1,305.5  1.14