Photomask Market Size, Growth Opportunities & Forecast [2031]

Report Description

The global photomask market size was USD 4.7 Bn in 2022 and is likely to reach USD 6.8 Bn by 2031, expanding at a CAGR of 4.3% during 2023–2031. The market growth is attributed to the rising use of electronic devices, the growing semiconductors requirement, and the high demand for automation technologies in various sectors.

A photomask is a master template designed to replicate the original integrated circuits (ICs) design. The photomask image is made of a binary pattern that consists of a solid and transparent substrate. The photomask image is designed in a way that some part of it is coated opaquely while some part is left transparent for allowing passage of light in an intended pattern.

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This photomask consists of glass or fused silica. The masking replicates or writes patterns precisely matching the original integrated circuit design. A photomask is placed next to the substrate called a photoresist, which is a silicon wafer covered with a photosensitive material coating. As the light transmits through photomasks it reveals the design of the photo resist’s transparent region on the adjacent substrate. The opaque mask coating protects the whole structure of the photoresist from being revealed. The advances in photomask have made it possible to significantly enhance modern semiconductor manufacturing processing.

Photomask technology is also applied in other sectors besides the semiconductor sector. It is used in the manufacturing of different consumer products such as computers and peripherals, automobile products, military equipment, and medical & biomedical products. The technology is widely used across worldwide universities for research and development processes and innovation of technologies.

The market report finds that the COVID-19 pandemic affected the photomask market. The severity of the coronavirus infection spread resulted in hindering the regular operations of every industry across the globe. The slowdown in production and decline of product demand from key end-user industries of photomask technology hampered the revenues of the market. However, on a positive note, the demand for automation technology and other innovative technology is likely to aid the market in bouncing back from the downfalls of COVID-19.

Photomask Market Dynamics

The research report presents a complete market overview by providing detailed information about the emerging trends in the market, existing drivers, growth opportunities and potentials, and emerging challenges. The global photomask market report has up-to-date insights about market scenarios that can shape the overall market performance and condition during the forecast period, 2023 to 2031.

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Key Trends

Rising Demand for Consumer Electronic Products

As the dependence on technology is rising across the globe, the demand for various innovative consumer electronic devices is increasing for personal use to home automation purposes. Semiconductors are vital parts of electronic devices, owing to which demand for photomask technology is going up in semiconductor manufacturing for various industries.

The demand for products such as smartphones, smartwatches, smart wearables, smart home appliances, and smart notebooks, among others is growing, all over the world.  Along with this, the short-term use of smart products and consumer yearning for buying newly launched smart devices is creating demand for rapid and high-volume production of electronic devices.

Moreover, the growing preference for smart miniature electronic devices in homes and offices is also boosting photomask technology usage in semiconductors of a diverse range of electronic products.

Major Drivers 

Growing Adoption of Automation Technologies

The implementation of automation is widening in various end-use industries owing to which the demand for precisely made semiconductors is boosting. The need for highly dependable automation machines, equipment, and devices is fueling demand for advanced photomask technology in the process of designing efficient integrated circuits.

As the adoption of the industrial internet of things (IIoT) is growing, it is projected to drive the need for different advanced machinery with highly optimized designs and functions. Such a growing need for automation technology and increasing complexities in semiconductors design are expected to boost the photomask market in the coming years.

Existing Restraints 

Technical Limitations and High Cost

The technical limitations associated with the photomask fabrication process can be one of the primary hindering factors to market growth. Furthermore, the rising complexities in semiconductors design due to shrinking designs of smart electronic products is limiting the use of photomask technology.

Moreover, the high cost involved in using photomask equipment and economic uncertainties around the world is anticipated to further challenge the growth of the photomask market during the projection period.

Emerging Opportunities 

Rising Demand for High-Performance Computing

The applications of the technology are expanding with the growing availability of the internet and electronic devices. The next big thing that is being demanded is high performance computing with high-speed memories and processors, which are projected to create lucrative growth opportunities for the global photomask market in the near future.

Modern smart devices and machines such as electronic optical devices, the Internet of Things (IoT), microelectromechanical systems (MEMS), flat panel displays, and resistor networks, among others all have applications of photomask technology in their IC designs. As the demand for high-speed processors and memories is growing, the demand for advanced photomasks is anticipated to increase rapidly during the forecast period.

Scope of the Photomask Market Report

The market report includes an assessment of the market trends, market segments, and regional markets. Overview and dynamics have also been included in the report.

Photomask Market Segment Insights

Based on type, the photomask market is divided into reticle, master mask, copy mask, and working mask. The reticle segment is expected to expand at a significant growth rate during the projection period. Reticle photomask is an important technology for the semiconductor sector as it supports achieving high yields from the semiconductor device. A reticle photomask is utilized as a stepper and scanner to transfer the original integrated circuit pattern onto the wafers.

The working mask segment is anticipated to hold a considerable share of the market in the coming years. A working mask is commonly used as an exposure device. It enacts as mirror projection aligners that enable separation of exposure without mask touching wafers.

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Most Commonly Used Glass Substrate for Masks Manufacturing

On the basis of substrate, the global market is segregated into quartz mask, toppan, soda mask, and film. The soda mask segment is projected to register a considerable CAGR during the forecast period. The segment held more than 40% share of the market revenue in 2022 and is anticipated to grow rapidly throughout the projection period. The growth of the segment is owing to soda masks being one of the commonly used glass substrates in the manufacturing of photomasks. The photolithography mask made with soda mask is stable, easy to clean, and efficient.

The quartz mask segment is anticipated to account for a substantial market share in the coming years. Quartz masks are commonly used glass substrates in photomask technology although they are more expensive. They can provide better output even if the mask gets warmer during the process. Quartz masks are transparent at deeper ultraviolet wavelengths.

In-house Mask Shops of Major Players in the Chipmakers Industry

On the basis of mask shop type, the photomask market is bifurcated into captive mask and merchant mask. The captive mask shop type segment is expected to register a robust growth rate during the forecast period. The segment has a major hold of the market owing to captive mask shop type being in-house mask shops of major players in the chipmakers’ industry.

The merchant mask segment is projected to hold a key market share in the coming years. Merchant mask shops provide photomask technology to most other industries. These shop types are expected to produce masks for a range of integrated device manufacturers, and optical device manufacturers, and also support the excess demands of captive mask shops.

Demand for Higher Accuracy in Chip Designs

On the basis of equipment, the global market is segregated into photomasking equipment and inspection equipment. The inspection equipment segment is projected to register a considerable CAGR of 9% during the forecast period. The growth of the inspection equipment segment is owing to miniaturizing electronics products and the need for the highest accuracy in designing chips. The inspection equipment validates all the criteria as per the manufacturing requirements of the semiconductor devices. The inspection is to ensure the highest quality in pattern replication, as the process is costly.

The photomasking equipment segment is anticipated to grow rapidly in the coming years. The growing technology integration and automation trend are likely to create the need for high-quality photomask technology. This growing trend of industrial automation and hyper use of smart devices is expected to support the substantial growth of the photomasking equipment segment in the global photomask market.

Rising Demand for Consumer Electronics

On the basis of application, the photomask market is segmented into optical devices, displays, MEMS, discrete components, and others. The displays segment is expected to register a robust growth rate during the forecast period. The demand for consumer electronics is consistently growing owing to increasing penetration of the internet and cost-effective devices. This growth in demand for consumer electronic devices is projected to support photomask technology for displays of smart devices in the coming years.

The optical devices segment is projected to hold a significant market share during the projection period. The growing consumer demand for optical devices such as cameras, telescopes, projectors, and magnifying glasses, among others is likely to boost the segment growth in the global market between the 2023 to 2031 period.

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Rising Use of Smart Devices and Electronics

On the basis of end-user, the global market is segregated into semiconductor, touch industry, automotive, flat panel display, circuit board, and others. The semiconductor segment is projected to register the highest CAGR growth in the photomask market during the forecast period. As semiconductors are vital parts of smart devices to electronic products, the demand for semiconductors is growing at a rapid pace in different industries.

The growing need for semiconductors is supporting the growth of photomask demand in the manufacturing of semiconductors’ lithography procedures. Photomask technology plays an important part in image-transferring tools in semiconductor manufacturing. The flat panel display segment is anticipated to account for a substantial market share in the coming years.  

In the production of flat panel displays (FPD), photomask technology plays a vital role. The demand for FPDs technology such as LCD (liquid crystal displays) and OLED display (organic light emitting diode) is growing significantly. Photomasks used in FPDs are identified as large-size photomasks (LSPMs).

Presence of Key Manufacturers and Rising Demand for Consumer Electronics

In terms of region, the global photomask market is classified as Asia Pacific, North America, Latin America, Europe, and Middle East & Africa. Asia Pacific is expected to dominate the market during the projection period owing to the significant presence of key manufacturers in the region and growing demand for consumer electronics, vehicles, smartphones, and other smart technologies in emerging economies such as India, China, and Japan. The presence of a large population and growing disposable income is likely to aid the growth of the semiconductor industry which is the key end-user industry of the photomask market.

The photomask market in North America is anticipated to expand at a rapid pace in the coming years. The high adoption of technologies across sectors and automation trends is expected to aid the photomask market growth in the region. Furthermore, the demand for next-gen improved semiconductors as part of smart devices, machines, and micro-electromechanical systems is boosting the demand for advanced photomask technology in North America.

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