Core Viewpoint - Japan has reportedly stopped exporting photoresists to China since mid-December, which is seen as a significant move in the semiconductor supply chain, particularly affecting companies like Canon, Nikon, and Mitsubishi Chemical [1] Group 1: Market Dynamics - The global semiconductor photoresist market is dominated by Japanese companies such as JSR, Shin-Etsu Chemical, Tokyo Ohka, and Sumitomo Chemical, which collectively hold a 95% market share [1] - The market response to the news has been positive, with photoresist-related stocks rising over 2%, indicating strong expectations for domestic alternatives in semiconductor photoresists [2] Group 2: Domestic Industry Response - Companies like Rongda Photoresist have reported that they have achieved performance benchmarks that allow them to replace some Japanese products, with their KrF (248nm) photoresist project nearing completion [3] - Other companies, such as Hengkang New Materials and Bayi Space, have also made strides in developing and selling photoresist products, indicating a shift towards local production capabilities [3] Group 3: Supply Chain Dependencies - Despite advancements, there remains a dependency on Japanese raw materials for photoresist production, as many companies rely on different sources for their materials [3] - Notably, Japan's semiconductor materials, including photoresist resins and photoinitiators, are heavily reliant on rare earth elements imported from China, which constitutes 90% of their supply [3] Group 4: Market Share Breakdown - The market shares for various types of photoresists are as follows: - I-line/G-line photoresists: 88% by Tokyo Ohka, DuPont, JSR, Sumitomo Chemical, and Dongjin Semichem [4] - KrF photoresists: 95% by Tokyo Ohka, Shin-Etsu Chemical, DuPont, JSR, and Fuji Film [4] - ArF photoresists: 94% by Shin-Etsu Chemical, JSR, Tokyo Ohka, DuPont, and Sumitomo Chemical [4] - EUV photoresists: monopolized by JSR, Shin-Etsu Chemical, and Tokyo Ohka [4]