The worldwide semiconductor photomask market will grow modestly from $3.1 billion in 2013 to $3.3 billion in 2015, according to trade association SEMI. The photomask market had declined 3 percent in 2012 but increased 1 percent in 2013.
In a new report on photomasks, SEMI said key drivers of the market continue to be advanced technology feature sizes (less than 45 nm) and increased manufacturing in Asia-Pacific. Taiwan was the largest regional photomask market for the fourth consecutive year in 2013 and is expected to be the largest market at least through 2015.
With $3.1 billion in revenue in 2013, photomasks represent 14 percent of the total wafer fabrication materials market, behind silicon and semiconductor gases. Photomasks were 18 percent of the total wafer fabrication materials market in 2003, according to SEMI.
Another trend highlighted in the report is the emerging importance of captive mask shops, which have gained market share at merchant suppliers’ expense. Captive mask suppliers accounted for 49 percent of the total photomask market last year, up from 42 percent in 2012. Captive mask shops represented 31 percent of the photomask market in 2003, according to the association.
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