MILPITAS, CA – SEMI’s equipment billings year-to-date through February show more than a 90% gain compared to the same period in the previous year, reaching about $7.5 billion.

Foundry shipments are more volatile but timewise coincident with semiconductor shipments, says SEMI. Both the 3/12 of foundry and semiconductors lead the 3/12 of SEMI equipment billings by about six months. In early 2017, foundry growth has slowed, though it remains positive. However, both the Taiwan foundry and SIA data predict SEMI equipment growth will slow by mid-year.

Global PMI leads semiconductor shipments by about two months and SEMI equipment billings by almost eight months, says the firm. The present 2017 business cycle upturn is not as dramatic as in 2010, and the PMI predicts slowing SEMI equipment growth mid-year.