KUALA LUMPUR: North America-based manufacturers of semiconductor equipment posted lower global billings in August of US$2.18bil (on a three-month average) from the preceding month as growth took a pause.
The Semiconductor Equipment Manufacturers Industry (SEMI) reported the billings figure fell 3.9% from the final July 2017 level of US$2.27bil.
While the billings in August were 27.7% higher than a year ago at US$1.71bil, they were the lowest since April’s US$2.136bil.
SEMI president and CEO Ajit Manocha said equipment billings in August declined relative to July, signaling a pause in this year's extraordinary growth.
“Nonetheless monthly billings remain well above last year's monthly levels," he said.
The final July billings were up 32.9% on-year at US$2.27bil while in June, they were up 34.1% on-year at US$2.30bil. In May the billings were up 41.8% on-year at US$2.27bil.
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