材料汇·2025-08-20 15:51Core Viewpoint - The semiconductor sputtering target materials industry, often overlooked, is crucial for the semiconductor supply chain, with significant investment potential as domestic alternatives emerge to replace long-standing foreign monopolies [2][4]. Industry Overview: What are Sputtering Target Materials? - Sputtering target materials are essential for physical vapor deposition (PVD) processes, creating functional thin films on substrates like silicon wafers through magnetron sputtering technology [6][8]. - These materials are critical for manufacturing integrated circuits, specifically in metal interconnect layers, barrier layers, and contact layers, requiring ultra-high purity (typically above 99.9995%) and precise dimensions [8][12]. Classification of Targets - Targets are categorized by material type: metal targets (e.g., copper, aluminum), alloy targets (e.g., copper-manganese), and ceramic targets (e.g., indium tin oxide) [12][10]. - Each type serves specific functions in semiconductor applications, with increasing purity and structural uniformity requirements as technology advances [12][13]. Upstream Supply: High-Purity Metals and Equipment - The upstream supply involves high-purity metal and non-metal raw materials, with significant reliance on imports for high-purity materials [15][16]. - Key domestic producers include Xinjiang Zhonghe for aluminum and Jiangfeng Electronics for tungsten, while global leaders include Hydro for high-purity aluminum and Hitachi Metals for tungsten [16][15]. Midstream Manufacturing: Technically Intensive Core Segment - The midstream segment encompasses the manufacturing of sputtering targets, involving complex processes such as melting, forming, and binding, requiring significant R&D investment [18][17]. - Precision in temperature, time, and atmosphere during melting is crucial for ensuring material uniformity and purity [18]. Downstream Coating: Sputter Coating - The main coating processes include PVD and chemical vapor deposition (CVD), with PVD being the predominant method in semiconductor and display applications [19][21]. - The sputtering coating market is largely dominated by American and Japanese multinational corporations [21]. Terminal Applications: Core Demand from Semiconductor Industry - Downstream applications are primarily in semiconductor chip manufacturing, where sputtering target materials are vital for forming key chip structures [22][23]. - The demand for high-quality sputtering targets is driven by the increasing performance requirements of chips in high-performance computing, AI, and 5G communications [22][23]. Market Situation - The global sputtering target market has grown from 82.1 billion yuan in 2018 to 116.3 billion yuan in 2022, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.1% [47]. - The market is projected to reach 194.5 billion yuan by 2027, with a CAGR of 10.7% during the forecast period [47]. Competitive Landscape - The global sputtering target market is characterized by an oligopoly, with major players like JX Nippon Mining, Honeywell, and Tosoh dominating approximately 80% of the market [60][62]. - Domestic companies such as Jiangfeng Electronics and Yuyuan New Materials are making significant strides in technology and market penetration, particularly in the midstream segment [64]. Future Development Trends - The industry is expected to see increased demand for higher purity and quality sputtering targets as semiconductor processes advance to 3nm and below [68]. - Emerging applications in AI, IoT, and automotive sectors are anticipated to drive further growth in the sputtering target market [69]. Core Investment Logic - Investing in semiconductor sputtering targets is fundamentally about investing in certainty, as demand remains closely tied to capital expenditures in wafer manufacturing [74]. - The industry is protected by high technical barriers, long certification cycles, and strong customer loyalty, making it difficult for new entrants [75]. - The narrative of domestic substitution presents a significant investment opportunity, with domestic leaders poised to capture market share from established foreign players [76].