Dutch semiconductor equipment maker ASM International NV (ASMI) Wednesday posted a second-quarter net loss on declining sales, restructuring costs and an impairment charge, but said that sales and order intake were up quarter-on-quarter and that visibility in the chip market is improving, albeit limited.

"While visibility is improving, it continues to be limited, thus the timing of potential orders is still difficult to predict," the company said.

ASMI reported a second-quarter net loss of EUR55.7 million, compared with a net loss of EUR23.3 million in the previous quarter and a net profit of EUR9.6 million a year earlier. In addition to declining sales, the loss was the result of EUR15.4 million restructuring expenses and an inventory impairment charge of EUR20.6 million.

Sales in the quarter came in at EUR119.5 million, from EUR89.1 million in the first quarter of 2009, while bookings were EUR155.8 million, up 85% from the previous quarter.

ASMI consists of a front-end division, which makes equipment to produce semiconductors, and a back-end division which assembles and packages the chips.

ASMI's back-end division has a 52.9% stake in ASM Pacific Technology (0522.HK), which earlier Wednesday beat market expectations after reporting a second-quarter revenue increase of 123.2% from the first quarter of 2009, while new orders bookings increased 200.5% compared to the previous quarter.

ASMI shares closed at EUR11.66 Wednesday.

-By Maarten van Tartwijk; Dow Jones Newswires; +31-20-5715-221; maarten.vantartwijk@dowjones.com