Global chip equipment September sales grow 23% pct year on year
Nov 16, 2006
Global sales of chip-making gear in September rose 23.2 percent from a year earlier and demand is expected to stay firm. Sales of tools used to make semiconductors rose worldwide to $3.95 billion in September, led by doubled sales in South Korea, the Semiconductor Equipment Association of Japan (SEAJ) said. Orders are also up by roughly 50 percent from the previous year, SEAJ spokesman Toshihisa Kuno said. A rise in orders is good for revenues three to six months ahead, when the orders are usually filled. "Growth is slowing, but the numbers are still unbelievably high," Kuno said. "Compared to last year, sales will stay up for another two to three months at least." Sales of chip testing equipment, an area where Advantest Corp. has the biggest market share, fell for the first time in 13 months, down 14 percent to $545 million, but orders are picking up, Kuno said. Region %Growth
Japan +2.2%
N. America +19.6%
Europe +12.5%
S. Korea +110.0%
Taiwan +7.2%
China +84.4%
Other +41.6%
TOTAL +23.2%
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