Chip-Equipment Orders Drop 41% in April

Orders for gear from North American-based chip-equipment companies plunged 41% to $711.8 million in April from the previous month amid the worst slump in the semiconductor industry since 1985.

The three-month average of worldwide bookings in April was below the revised March 2001 level of $1.2 billion and 74% below the $2.72 billion in orders posted in the year-ago month, according to figures published by trade group Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International.

SEMI said the book-to-bill ratio for April was 0.42, the lowest in 10 years. The ratio means $42 of new orders were received for every $100 of product shipped for the month.

April shipments were $1.68 billion, 17% below revised March shipments but 15% below year-ago April shipments.