Forward-looking: The construction of new chipmaking facilities in the US and abroad is driving increased demand for semiconductor materials. Several materials suppliers, including Fujifilm Holdings, are ramping up production and investing in infrastructure and new plants to keep up with the demand from chipmakers like Intel and TSMC.
Fujifilm Holdings has announced an ambitious plan to invest approximately ¥100 billion ($640.5 million US) by March 2027 to increase its global semiconductor materials production capacity. Nikkei reports that the company intends to expand its operations in key markets, including the United States, Japan, and South Korea, where major chipmakers are establishing new advanced fabrication facilities. However, Fujifilm has yet to confirm these plans officially.
The company is constructing a new facility in Shizuoka, Japan, with an investment of ¥13 billion ($83.27 million). The investment also includes purchasing new equipment for a Pyeongtaek, South Korea facility that will become operational by this fall. Fujifilm also earmarked funds to increase production at a plant in Cheonan, South Korea, by 30 percent once mass production commences in spring 2027. The company is also exploring potential opportunities in India, where it may collaborate with local firms or establish a joint venture for chip material production. It might consider building facilities in India depending on client demand and market conditions after the 2027 fiscal year.
The investment marks a substantial increase in the company’s spending over the last three years, a response to the surging demand for semiconductor materials. New fabrication plants by leading companies such as Intel and TSMC in the US, Kioxia and Micron in Japan, and Samsung and SK Hynix in South Korea have driven this demand. As chipmakers invest tens of billions of dollars into new manufacturing facilities, their ecosystem partners, including Fujifilm, ramp up their investments to support the growth spurt.
The company has identified semiconductor materials as a crucial growth area and aims to double its sales in this sector to reach ¥500 billion ($3.2 billion) by fiscal 2030. Fuji Keizai projects the global market for chipmaking materials to expand by 35 percent, reaching $58.3 billion by 2029 compared to 2023 levels.
Tom’s Hardware notes that Fujifilm ranks fifth globally in producing photosensitive semiconductor materials and supplies major chipmakers. It is one of only five manufacturers of ultra-pure extreme ultraviolet (EUV) photoresists, alongside JSR, DuPont, Tokyo Ohka Kogyo, and Shin-Etsu Chemical. The EUV lithography process operates at an extremely short wavelength of 13.5 nanometers, necessitating that photoresists meet rigorous standards for sensitivity, resolution, line-edge roughness, and compatibility with EUV photomask materials.
Who Is Marion Bowman? First US Inmate To Be Executed This Year
