KUALA LUMPUR (May 24): North America-based manufacturers of semiconductor equipment posted US$2.69 billion in billings worldwide in April 2018, according to the U.S.-based Semiconductor Equipment & Materials International’s (SEMI) November Equipment Market Data Subscription (EMDS) Billings Report.

In a statement on its website May 22, SEMI said the billings figure is 10.7% higher than the final March 2018 level of US$2.43 billion, and is 26% higher than the April 2017 billings level of US$2.13 billion.

SEMI president and CEO Ajit Manocha said April 2018 monthly billings for North American equipment manufacturers surpassed the October 2000 record high of US$2.6 billion.

“Storage, artificial intelligence and big data are driving strong demand for semiconductors, offsetting smartphone sales that have lagged expectations this year,” he said.