Sep 25 2014
Growth in Semiconductor, Display and Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) Markets to Drive Overall Demand for Photomasks in the Country
Photomasks are key tools used in the manufacture of semiconductors, Flat Panel Displays (FPD), optical devices and other products. The photomask market is largely dependent on growth in the overall semiconductor industry. During the last three years, the United States photomask market witnessed negative growth in terms of unit shipment, due to decline in the country's semiconductor industry. The industry exhibited a negative growth of 3.6% during 2011-12, predominantly due to steep decline in the desktop PC and components markets. However, with anticipated recovery in the desktop PC market over the next five years, the US semiconductor industry is forecast to register moderate growth, thus positively influencing the photomask market.
According to the recently published TechSci Research report, "United States Photomask Market Forecast & Opportunities, 2019", the photomask market in the United States is forecast to reach USD474.58 billion by 2019.The Western region dominates the photomask market in the US, in terms of revenue share, due to the presence of a large number of semiconductor and FPD manufacturing facilities in the region. Besides widespread usage in the semiconductor industry, the FPD application segment accounted for the largest revenue share in the US photomask market in 2013, where Hoya Corporation emerged as leading player in the country, in terms of photomask shipments for FPD application. While photomasks are widely used in the manufacture of TFT-LCD display panels, growth in LED and Laser panel display markets is expected to benefit the overall demand for photomasks in the FPD industry in the US, over the next five years.
"Photomasks with soda lime and quartz base glass material are two widely available types, where the former variety accounts for majority revenue share, in both value and volume terms. Soda lime base glass material photomasks are easily affected by temperature disparity, resulting in higher overlay error when loading multiple layers. However, soda lime base glass material photomask segment is expected to witness steady growth over the next five years due to relatively low pricing of this material. On the contrary, quartz base glass material photomasks are popular due to low impurity levels, which offer high optical and thermal characteristics. As a result, quartz base glass material photomask segment is expected to gain traction in the United States photomask market, despite being costlier than soda lime base glass material photomasks.", said Mr. Karan Chechi, Research Director with TechSci Research, a research based global management consulting firm.
"United States Photomask Market Forecast & Opportunities, 2019" has evaluated the future growth potential of the photomask market in the US and provides statistics and information on market structure, market size & share, market trends, etc. The report includes the United States photomask market projections and demand forecasting. The report is intended to provide cutting-edge market intelligence and help decision makers to take sound investment evaluation. Besides, the report also identifies and analyzes the emerging trends along with essential drivers, challenges and opportunities available in the United States photomask market.