Orders for Japan-Made Chipmaking Equipment in May Fall for 15th Month

Orders in May for chipmaking equipment manufactured by Japanese makers fell 44.6 pct from a year before to 88.9 billion yen, down for the 15th consecutive month, an industry group said Thursday.

Orders dropped by 43.8 pct to 63.6 billion yen for wafer-processing equipment, including steppers, and by 64.0 pct to 10.1 billion yen for testing equipment, the Semiconductor Equipment Association of Japan said.

The prolonged order slump reflects chipmakers' reduced capital spending amid chip price falls, association officials said.

The association also said that chipmaking equipment sales in May plunged 46.9 pct to 82.8 billion yen to extend the losing streak to a sixth month.