Semiconductor equipment market grew 12 percent in July

NEW TRIPOLI, USA: Applied Materials’ results clearly confirmed that the downturn in the semiconductor equipment market is over, although the overall market will drop 46 percent in 2008, according to the report “The Global Market for Equipment and Materials for IC Manufacturing,” recently published by The Information Network.

“July marked a huge ramp in semiconductor equipment purchases as leading foundries. About $755 million in semiconductor equipment was purchased in July, up 12 percent from $677 million in June 2009,” noted Dr. Robert Castellano, president of The Information Network. “We see growth continuing sequentially in August, increasing 14.6 percent and taking sales to $869 million.”

The chart below compares our leading indicators with semiconductor equipment sales on a monthly basis.Source: The Information Network

“Our proprietary leading indicators determine inflection points in economic activity and which we utilize to show turning points in semiconductor equipment sales,” added Dr. Castellano, president of The Information Network.