A return to form
Applied Materials’ results clearly confirmed that the downturn in the semiconductor equipment market is over, although the overall market will drop 46% in 2008, according to the report “The Global Market for Equipment and Materials for IC Manufacturing,” recently published by The Information Network, a New Tripoli, PA-based market research company.
“July marked a huge ramp in semiconductor equipment purchases as leading foundries. $755 million in semiconductor equipment was purchased in July, up 12.0% 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% and taking sales to $869 million.”
“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.
