Thursday 28 Mar 2024
By
main news image

KUALA LUMPUR (April 10): The global semiconductor photomask market jumped 13% to a record high US$3.75 billion in 2017, according to the U.S.-based Semiconductor Equipment & Materials International (SEMI).

In a statement on its website yesterday, SEMI said the market is forecast to exceed US$4.0 billion in 2019.

It said the mask market is expected to grow 5% and 4% in 2018 and 2019, respectively.

SEMI explained that key photomask market drivers remain advanced technology feature sizes (less than 45nm) and Asia-Pacific manufacturing growth.

It said Taiwan was again the largest photomask regional market for the seventh year in a row and is expected to retain the top spot for the duration of the forecast.

Korea rose in the rankings to claim the second spot, it added.

SEMI said with the US$3.75 billion in revenues, photomasks accounted for 13% of the total wafer fabrication materials market, behind silicon and semiconductor gases, in 2017.

By comparison, it said that photomasks represented 18% of the total wafer fabrication materials market in 2003.

“Reflecting their growing importance, captive mask shops, aided by intense capital expenditures in 2011 and 2012, continue to gain market share at merchant suppliers’ expense.

“Captive mask suppliers accounted for 65% of the total photomask market last year, up from 63% in 2016. In 2013, captive mask shops represented 31% of the photomask market.

 

      Print
      Text Size
      Share