SAN JOSE -- Worldwide semiconductor equipment sales dropped 20.2% sequentially in the third quarter to $5.63 billion from $7.07 billion in Q2, according to new market statistics released today by the SEMI trade group here.
On a sequential basis, third-quarter tool shipments were the weakest in South Korea (-37.7%), Europe (-28.9%), and Taiwan (-24.6%) compared to Q2, but all major regional markets were substantially lower compared to Q2 sales, said Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International, which presented the new numbers at a breakfast briefing here.
The third-quarter's $5.63 billion figure was 55.6% lower than $12.98 billion in Q3 of 2000 (see table below).
To make matters worse for semiconductor equipment vendors, SEMI said worldwide orders for production systems totaled $3.92 billion in the third quarter, a decline of 75% from booking in period last year and 12% below Q2 orders this year.
"The ongoing malaise in the semiconductor equipment sector resulting from poor economic conditions, excess capacity levels and weak end-unit demand has been apparent for some time," said Elizabeth Schumann, director of industry research and statistics at SEMI in San Jose. "Consequently, the significant decline in capital equipment shipments and third quarter results for the worldwide industry have been anticipated."
Only the rest-of-world (ROW) segment showed sequential growth--rising 9.1% from Q2--mostly based on investments in China. However, the ROW segment was also down 54.7% in the third quarter from the same period last year.
Scorecard for chip gear shipments
| Region |
Q3 2001 |
Q2 2001 |
Change from Q2 |
Q3 2000 |
Change from last year |
| N. America |
$1.66 billion |
$2.15 billion |
-22.6% |
$3.51 billion |
-52.7% |
| Japan |
$1.47 billion |
$1.78 billion |
-17.4% |
$2.61 billion |
-43.8% |
| Taiwan |
$720 million |
$950 million |
-24.6% |
$2.53 billion |
-71.6% |
| Europe |
$700 million |
$980 million |
-28.9% |
$1.67 billion |
-58.2% |
| Korea |
$300 million |
$490 million |
-37.7% |
$930 million |
-67.3% |
| ROW |
$790 million |
$720 million |
+9.1% |
$1.73 billion |
-54.7% |
| Total |
$5.63 billion |
$7.07 billion |
-20.2% |
$12.98 billion |
-55.6% |
| Source: SEMI |
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