TOKYO-Worldwide sales of chipmaking gear dropped 37.4 percent in November from a month earlier to US$1.27 billion, according to the Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International.
The claim contradicts some signals that a rebound is in the offing.
On a cheerful note, the November report signifies a 29.6-percent improvement from the same month in 2001. The data shows that North American orders remained the same, although Japan suffered a 20.2-percent drop.
The Semiconductor Equipment Association of Japan, however, reports that it expects a 17.3-percent sales rise in the next business year, which begins in April.
