Worldwide semiconductor equipment billings soared 39 percentin the first quarter compared to the first quarter of 2013, according to trade association SEMI.
Global semiconductor equipment billings reached $10.15 billion in the first quarter of 2014, up 9 percent from the fourth quarter of 2013 when billings totaled $9.3 billion, the trade association said. Equipment billings in the first quarter of 2013 were $7.31 billion.
Worldwide semiconductor equipment bookings also posted strong growth compared to the first quarter of last year. Bookings (new orders) were $9.89 billion in the first quarter 2014, up 27 percent from the same quarter a year ago, SEMI said. However, equipment bookings dropped 5 percent from the fourth quarter 2013.
Regionally, Korea, China, North America and Europe posted strong growth rates for billings. Semiconductor equipment billings in North America totaled $1.85 billion in the first quarter of 2014, an increase of 35 percent from the fourth quarter of 2013 when billings were $1.37 billion, the association said. Billings in North America also increased 21 percent from the first quarter of 2013 when sales were $1.53 billion.
First quarter billings in Korea were $2 billion, up 24 percent from the fourth quarter and 135 percent from the first quarter 2013, according to SEMI.
China's equipment billings in the first quarter totaled $1.71 billion, up 24 percent quarter over quarter and 209 percent year over year. Equipment billings in Europe were $580 million, up just 1 percent quarter over quarter, but 55 percent compared to the first quarter of 2013, said SEMI.
The data is gathered by SEMI and the Semiconductor EquipmentAssociation of Japan (SEAJ) from more than 100 global equipment companies thatprovide data on a monthly basis.
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