49% ultra-pure electronic-grade hydrofluoric acid: a buyer's guide to grades, packaging and prices

49% ultra-pure electronic-grade hydrofluoric acid is aqueous hydrogen fluoride at 49% HF by weight, purified so that metal ions, anions and particles sit at parts per billion or parts per trillion. It is the standard bulk strength that chip, display and solar cell makers buy and dilute on site to etch silicon dioxide and clean wafers. Buying it well comes down to four choices: the SEMI grade, the strength, the pack size and the supplier, with price following from all four.

What "49% ultra-pure" actually means

The figure 49% is the concentration of hydrogen fluoride in water. "Ultra-pure" or "electronic grade" describes everything else in the bottle: trace metals such as sodium, iron and copper, anions such as chloride and sulfate, and particles, all of which can ruin a chip if they land on a wafer. The purity rules are set by SEMI, the global semiconductor industry association, in SEMI C28, the specification and guide for hydrofluoric acid. SEMI publishes separate standards for 4.9% dilute acid (SEMI C29) and for acid used in photovoltaic cells (SEMI PV11).

Hydrofluoric acid matters because it is the only common chemical that dissolves silicon dioxide quickly and selectively. Fabs use it to strip native oxide, etch oxide films and clean wafers, often diluted or blended with ammonium fluoride as buffered oxide etch. Stella Chemifa, for example, makes buffered HF from 50% acid and 40% ammonium fluoride. Display makers use HF to etch and thin glass, and solar cell lines use it to clean wafers and remove phosphosilicate glass.

SEMI grades G1 to G5 compared

Suppliers sell the same 49% acid at several purity tiers. Industry shorthand maps the SEMI grades onto names you will see on quotations and data sheets. The table sets out which grade goes where.

SEMI grade	Trade name	Typical user	What to check
G5	UP-SSS	Advanced 12-inch logic, foundry, DRAM, HBM and NAND fabs	Metals at the ppt level; plant qualified by the fab
G4	UP-SS	Mature 12-inch lines and most 8-inch fabs (analog, power, microcontrollers)	Lot-to-lot consistency; second source available
G3	UP-S	Display panels and less sensitive chip steps such as backside cleaning	Particle counts; bulk supply near the panel plant
G2	UP	Display and solar lines, general electronics	Price per tonne and delivery reliability
G1	EL	Solar cell texturing and cleaning, general use	Compliance with SEMI PV11 for PV lines

The top of the range keeps moving. Stella Chemifa reports product purity of 12N with impurities of 1 ppt or less, and Do-Fluoride says its UP-SSS acid meets 12-inch wafer requirements. G5 is also the largest grade in value: by Growth Market Reports' analysis it earned 31% of 2025 revenue in the electronic-grade hydrofluoric acid market and it is the fastest-growing grade, because AI logic and high-bandwidth memory capacity use the purest acid.

Supply of G5 is thinner than supply of the lower grades. China has about 30 producers, but Befar says only a minority reach G5; its own 6,000-tonne G5 line produced 6,404.59 tonnes in 2025, above nameplate. A buyer who needs G5 in China has fewer qualified choices than one buying G2 for solar cells.

49% vs 50% vs dilute acid: which strength to buy

Most fabs buy concentrated acid and dilute it in their own chemical distribution systems. By our analysis the 49% to 50% strength carries 72% of the market's revenue. Both labels are common: Columbus Chemical lists hydrofluoric acid 49%, SEMI grade as a catalog product, while Kanto Chemical lists hydrofluoric acid 50% in its ultrapure chemicals range and ENF Technology lists 50% HF among its semiconductor etchants. In practice the choice between 49% and 50% follows the fab's process recipe and the supplier it has qualified, not a difference in purity grade.

• 49% to 50% (standard bulk): ships and stores well, matches SEMI test methods and gives the lowest cost per kilogram of HF. Best for any site with an on-site blending system.
• Dilute acid (for example 4.9%, SEMI C29): sold premixed for wafer cleaning and laboratories, so the site never handles concentrated acid. This is the fastest-growing strength by our analysis, as fabs outsource blending to cut handling risk.
• Above 50%: a small niche for processes that need a higher etch rate, custom etchant blending and some glass thinning work.

Packaging: ISO tank, IBC, polyethylene drum or bottle

Pack size follows consumption. Morita Chemical, one of the Japanese pioneers, lists electronic grade hydrofluoric acid in 20,000 kg, 9,000 kg, 6,000 kg and 3,000 kg units as well as 1,000 kg, 200 kg and 25 kg packs, which covers the full range from a large fab to a laboratory.

• ISO tanks and tank lorries: for high-volume fabs and panel plants feeding a bulk chemical distribution system. By our analysis bulk deliveries earn 58% of revenue and gain share as new fabs are designed for bulk supply.
• IBCs and totes (around 1,000 litres): for mid-size fabs, solar lines and backup supply. They are returnable and must be cleaned and requalified between fills, so a supplier with a local cleaning facility has an edge.
• Polyethylene drums (about 200 litres): the usual answer to the search "electronic-grade hydrofluoric acid in polyethylene drum". High-density polyethylene resists HF, and drums suit 8-inch fabs, display rework lines and export shipments.
• Bottles (one to 20 litres): for laboratories, university cleanrooms and failure analysis labs. They carry the highest price per kilogram.

Whatever the pack, confirm that the container liner, the filling line and the cleaning procedure are covered by the supplier's certificate of analysis. A G5 acid filled into a poorly cleaned drum is no longer G5 when it reaches the tool.

How much does 49% electronic-grade HF cost?

There is no public list price for chip-grade HF. Fabs buy on annual contracts after qualification, so the best benchmarks are revenue per tonne from supplier filings and unit values from customs data for HS 2811.11, the code for hydrogen fluoride and hydrofluoric acid. The pricing chapter of the report covers these in more detail.

Benchmark	Price	Basis
Semiconductor HF realized by Stella Chemifa	About JPY 301 per kg (about USD 2,000 per tonne)	JPY 22.2 billion of semiconductor sales on 73,800 tonnes, year to March 2026
HF exported from Japan	About USD 2,090 per tonne	UN Comtrade HS 281111, 2024: 22,921 tonnes worth USD 47.9 million
HF shipped from Taiwan to the US	About USD 3,250 per tonne	UN Comtrade, 2024: 3,406 tonnes worth USD 11.1 million
HF shipped from China to South Korea	About USD 1,620 per tonne	UN Comtrade, 2024: 86,920 tonnes, largely feedstock for Korean purifiers
Hydrogen fluoride imported into Japan (feedstock)	JPY 307 per kg, then JPY 384 per kg	Year to March 2026, then April to June 2026
Acid-grade fluorspar, US imports	USD 470 per tonne	USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, 2025 average

Three patterns stand out. First, high-purity acid shipped between Japan, Taiwan and the US sells in a band of about USD 2,000 to 3,300 per tonne, and the top of that band is where G5 acid for new fabs sits. Second, flows from China to Korea are cheaper because much of that acid is feedstock that Korean companies purify again. Third, feedstock swings quickly: the Japanese import price for hydrogen fluoride rose about 25% in one quarter, and Stella Chemifa raised its semiconductor sales 10.2% in the same quarter through price pass-through.

Budget example. A fab that uses 3,000 tonnes a year of G4 or G5 acid at USD 2,000 to 3,300 per tonne spends USD 6 million to 10 million a year on HF. A 25% feedstock rise, if fully passed through, would add up to USD 1.5 million to 2.5 million. That is why feedstock-linked price clauses deserve as much attention in a contract as the purity specification.

How to choose a supplier

1. Match the grade to the process step. Pay for G5 where the step touches advanced 12-inch wafers and use G3 or G4 where the process allows it. Over-specifying the whole site to G5 raises cost without improving yield.
2. Plan for qualification time. Each supplier and each plant must pass the fab's qualification before it wins volume. Do-Fluoride says market competition and customer verification cycles kept its new high-purity lines below full capacity, which shows how long this takes.
3. Look at where the acid is made. Local supply cuts transit time and customs risk. Formosa Daikin was set up to replace imports from a few Japanese makers and runs 45,000 tonnes a year of high-purity HF capacity in Taiwan, and Kanto group's KPPC Advanced Chemicals is building an ultrapure chemicals plant in Arizona for production in late 2027.
4. Check the feedstock chain. Some suppliers buy anhydrous HF, others own the chain back to fluorspar. Do-Fluoride runs its own fluorite and anhydrous HF chain, while Korea's Soulbrain has internalized its HF and BOE raw materials.
5. Keep a second source in another country. Japan restricted hydrogen fluoride exports to South Korea from 2019 until the controls were lifted in March 2023. Fabs with a qualified second source rode that out far better than those without.

Who supplies 49% electronic-grade hydrofluoric acid

Supply is regional. In Japan, Stella Chemifa has 105,000 tonnes a year of capacity across Sakai, Kitakyushu and Singapore, and Morita Chemical sells a wide range of pack sizes. In Taiwan, Formosa Daikin serves local fabs. In South Korea, Soulbrain and ENF Technology purify HF and make buffered oxide etch for memory and logic fabs. In China, Do-Fluoride, Zhongjuxin and Befar lead about 30 producers. In the US and Europe, FUJIFILM Electronic Materials Process Chemicals, the former electronic chemicals business of Entegris, supplies high-purity acids from plants in the US, Europe and Singapore. By Growth Market Reports' analysis the top five companies hold about 38% of global revenue, so buyers have real alternatives in most regions.

For the feedstock side of the chain, see our high-purity hydrogen fluoride market and fluorspar market reports. For the wider chemical basket that fabs buy alongside HF, see the semiconductor wet chemicals market and the electronic-grade ammonium fluoride market, the other half of buffered oxide etch.

Where the market is heading

The global electronic-grade hydrofluoric acid market was worth USD 1.11 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 1.96 billion by 2034, a CAGR of 6.5%. Semiconductors take 61% of revenue, and Asia Pacific uses 86.4% of the acid. North America is the fastest-growing region at a 10.6% CAGR as fabs in Arizona and Texas ramp. For buyers, that means more local supply options in the US by the end of the decade, and more competition for G5 volume everywhere. The full sizing, grade split and supplier comparison are in the Growth Market Reports electronic-grade hydrofluoric acid market report.

Frequently asked questions

What is 49% ultra-pure electronic-grade hydrofluoric acid?

It is hydrofluoric acid at 49% HF by weight, purified under SEMI C28 so that metal impurities sit at ppb or ppt levels. Fabs buy it as the standard bulk strength and dilute it on site for oxide etching and wafer cleaning.

What is the difference between G4 and G5 hydrofluoric acid?

Both are SEMI semiconductor grades. G5 (UP-SSS) keeps metals at the ppt level and is needed for advanced 12-inch wafers, while G4 (UP-SS) serves mature 12-inch lines and most 8-inch fabs. G5 is the largest and fastest-growing grade by value.

Is electronic-grade hydrofluoric acid sold in polyethylene drums?

Yes. High-density polyethylene resists HF, and drums of about 200 litres are the usual pack for smaller fabs, display rework lines and export shipments. Large fabs take ISO tanks or tank lorries, and laboratories buy bottles.

How much does electronic-grade hydrofluoric acid cost per tonne?

Stella Chemifa realized about USD 2,000 per tonne on semiconductor HF in the year to March 2026. UN Comtrade data put Japanese exports at about USD 2,090 per tonne and Taiwan to US shipments at about USD 3,250 per tonne in 2024.

Should I buy 49% or 50% hydrofluoric acid?

Both are standard bulk strengths. Columbus Chemical sells 49% SEMI grade, while Kanto Chemical and ENF Technology list 50%. Choose the strength your process recipe and qualified supplier use; purity depends on the SEMI grade, not on 49% versus 50%.

Sources

1. SEMI, "SEMI C28: Specification and Guide for Hydrofluoric Acid", accessed 2026-09-28
2. SEMI, "SEMI C29: Specification and Guide for 4.9% Hydrofluoric Acid (10:1 v/v)", accessed 2026-09-28
3. SEMI, "SEMI PV11: Specification for Hydrofluoric Acid, Used in Photovoltaic Applications", accessed 2026-09-28
4. Stella Chemifa Corporation (TSE: 4109), "Business Results for FYE 3/2026 (results presentation)", 2026-05-14
5. Befar Group Co., Ltd. (SSE: 601678), filing on CNINFO, "2025 Annual Report", 2026-04-23
6. Stella Chemifa Corporation, "Products Related to Semiconductors", accessed 2026-09-28
7. Do-Fluoride New Materials Co., Ltd. (SZSE: 002407), filing on CNINFO, "2025 Annual Report", 2026-04-16
8. Columbus Chemical Industries, "Hydrofluoric Acid 49%, SEMI grade: product page", accessed 2026-09-28
9. Kanto Chemical Co., Inc., "Ultra Pure Chemicals (product and SDS list, incl. Hydrofluoric acid 50%)", accessed 2026-09-28
10. ENF Technology, "Process Chemicals (product overview)", accessed 2026-09-28
11. Morita Chemical Industries, "Electronic grade Hydrofluoric acid: product page", accessed 2026-09-28
12. United Nations Statistics Division (UN Comtrade), "HS 281111 imports and exports by reporter and partner, 2024", accessed 2026-09-28
13. Stella Chemifa Corporation (TSE: 4109), "Business Results for 1Q (Three months) of FYE 3/2027", 2026-08-06
14. U.S. Geological Survey, "Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Fluorspar", 2026-01
15. Do-Fluoride New Materials Co., Ltd. (SZSE: 002407), filing on CNINFO, "2026 Half-Year Report", 2026-08-18
16. Formosa Daikin Advanced Chemicals, "About us", accessed 2026-09-28
17. Arizona Commerce Authority, "Kanto PPC Groundbreaking", 2025-12
18. Soulbrain, "Semiconductor Materials: HF and BOE", accessed 2026-09-28
19. METI Japan, "Japan-Korea Export Control Policy Dialogue Held", 2023-03-16
20. FUJIFILM Corporation, "Fujifilm Completes Acquisition of Electronic Chemicals Business from Entegris; Rebranded as FUJIFILM Electronic Materials Process Chemicals", 2023-10-02

Related

• Electronic-Grade Hydrofluoric Acid Market Size, Share and Forecast
• Electronic-Grade Hydrofluoric Acid Market to Reach USD 1.96 Billion by 2034 as Feedstock Costs Jump and Suppliers Raise Prices