Shipments of front-end process equipment increased by 0.2%, while shipments of back-end process equipment decreased by 11%.

The Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International (SEMI) announced that total North American semiconductor equipment shipments in July amounted to $2.27 billion.

SEMI publishes shipment figures for North American semiconductor equipment manufacturers in its report based on a three-month average. July shipments fell 1.4% from the $2.3 billion recorded in June, but rose 32.8% compared to the $1.71 billion recorded in July of the previous year.

Shipments of front-end process equipment in July totaled $1.99 billion, a 0.2% increase from $1.97 billion in June and a 37.1% increase from $1.45 billion in July of the previous year. Front-end equipment includes wafer processing, mask/reticle manufacturing, wafer manufacturing, and fab facilities.

Back-end equipment shipments in July totaled $290 million, down 11% from $320 million in June and up 9.5% from $260 million in July of last year. Back-end equipment includes assembly, packaging, and testing equipment.

SEMI President Ajit Manocha said, “Although equipment shipments in July were weak compared to the previous month, equipment shipments surged for the entire first half of the year,” adding, “The monthly and annual growth rates of equipment shipments are increasing significantly, and 2017 is expected to be a record year.”