材料汇·2025-05-19 15:22Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the current state and future prospects of the photomask industry, highlighting the challenges faced by domestic companies in China and the potential for growth driven by increasing demand in downstream applications such as semiconductors and flat panel displays [2][3][4]. Group 1: Photomask Industry Overview - Photomasks are critical materials in microelectronics manufacturing, serving as templates for transferring circuit designs onto substrates or wafers [2][5]. - The global photomask market has been growing steadily, reaching a size of $5.2 billion by 2022 [2]. - The domestic photomask industry in China is currently lagging, with reliance on foreign imports for upstream equipment and materials [3][35]. Group 2: Market Dynamics - The demand for photomasks is driven by the growth of downstream industries, particularly in consumer electronics and semiconductor manufacturing [35][48]. - The photomask industry exhibits a counter-cyclical property, where sales can increase during downturns in the panel industry as manufacturers invest in new product development [3][48]. - The semiconductor photomask market is dominated by companies from the US and Japan, with a significant portion of the market share held by firms like Intel, Samsung, and TSMC [3][4]. Group 3: Domestic Companies and Development - Domestic companies such as Qingyi Optoelectronics and Luwei Optoelectronics are making strides in the photomask sector, with advancements in technology and market share [4][30]. - The article emphasizes the importance of mergers and acquisitions for domestic firms to enhance their technical capabilities and compete with established international players [4][30]. - The shift of panel and semiconductor production capacity to mainland China presents an opportunity for local photomask manufacturers to grow [4][65]. Group 4: Technological and Market Trends - The photomask production process involves several complex steps, requiring high precision and advanced technology [17][21]. - The industry is witnessing a trend towards larger and more sophisticated display panels, which in turn increases the demand for advanced photomasks [52][65]. - The market for photomasks is expected to continue growing, with projections indicating a rise in the domestic market size from 7.412 billion yuan in 2019 to 12.436 billion yuan in 2023 [48][49].