Equipment shipments reach $2.05 billion, with the upward trend expected to continue next year due to the construction of a new fab in China.

The Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International (SEMI) announced that total semiconductor equipment shipments in North America in November amounted to $2.05 billion. SEMI publishes the shipment figures of North American semiconductor equipment manufacturers in its reports as a three-month average.

November shipments rose 1.6% compared to the $2.02 billion in equipment shipments in October of last month, and increased 27.2% compared to the $1.61 billion in November of the previous year.

Shipments of front-end process equipment in November amounted to $1.85 billion, up 3.9% from $1.78 billion in October and up 27.2% from $1.45 billion in November of the previous year.

Shipments of back-end equipment in November amounted to $200 million, down 15.6% from $240 million in October and up 25.9% from $160 million in November of last year.

"Looking at the monthly growth rates over the past four months, North American semiconductor shipments showed growth for the first time in November, but equipment sales remain at record highs from early 2017 until now. We have positive expectations as equipment purchases are expected to take place next year due to the construction of a new fab in China," said SEMI analyst Dan Tracy.