Photoresists: Production
Why a handful of Japanese plants serve the world's fabs
Why a handful of Japanese plants serve the world's fabs What this tab covers Who makes it and how much: world capacity and output, utilisation, the top producing countries and companies globally and in India, concentration, new capacity coming, and each region's position.| Measure | Figure | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| World capacity | not published | Plants are small and close to fabs; JSR plans its first Taiwan plant for EUV resists (Nikkei via TrendForce, May 2026). | TrendForce (May 2026) |
| World output | not published as tonnage; $2.91 billion (2025) | Asia Pacific took 72.34% of 2025 demand. | Mordor via GII (2026) |
| Capacity utilisation | not published | Japanese suppliers warned of shortages in April 2026 as naphtha from the Middle East was cut. | TrendForce (Apr 2026) |
| Concentration | Japanese firms dominate advanced resists (indicative); no published shares found | Mordor profiles about 20 suppliers but does not rank them. JSR was taken private by the state-backed Japan Investment Corporation in 2024 (indicative), underlining its strategic status. | Mordor via GII (2026); indicative |
| New capacity | $5.53 billion market by 2031 (Mordor) | JSR Taiwan EUV plant (planned 2026); Xuzhou B&C KrF/ArF (mass production within about five years); localisation partnerships with Tata Electronics in India. | Mordor via GII; TrendForce (2026); Indian Infrastructure (2026) |
Top producing countries
- Japan: Tokyo Ohka Kogyo, JSR, Shin-Etsu, Sumitomo Chemical, Fujifilm: the leading suppliers of advanced resists (indicative)
- United States: DuPont; Brewer Science (ancillaries)
- Germany: Merck KGaA; Allresist, micro resist technology (niche)
- South Korea: Dongjin Semichem, YC Chem, Kolon, LG Chem
- China: Jiangsu Nata, Xuzhou B&C (targeting KrF and ArF mass production within five years)
- India: no production; Tata Electronics MoUs with Fujifilm and JSR (Sep 2026)
Largest producers: global
| Company | Country | Volume | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tokyo Ohka Kogyo (TOK) leading KrF, ArF and EUV supplier (indicative) | Japan | not published | 2025 | Mordor via GII (2026) |
| JSR first Taiwan plant planned for TSMC | Japan | not published | 2026 | TrendForce (May 2026); Mordor via GII |
| Shin-Etsu Chemical also silicon wafers | Japan | not published | 2025 | Mordor via GII (2026) |
| Sumitomo Chemical | Japan | not published | 2025 | Mordor via GII (2026) |
| Fujifilm MoU with Tata Electronics | Japan | not published | 2026 | Mordor via GII; Indian Infrastructure (Sep 2026) |
| DuPont | US | not published | 2025 | Mordor via GII (2026) |
| Merck KGaA | Germany | not published | 2025 | Mordor via GII (2026) |
| Dongjin Semichem grew after Japan's 2019 curbs (indicative) | South Korea | not published | 2025 | Mordor via GII (2026) |
Largest producers: India
India has no photoresist producer. Tata Electronics signed MoUs in September 2026 with Fujifilm, JSR and others covering photoresists and advanced fab chemicals for its Dholera fab (Indian Infrastructure, Sep 2026).
Position by region
| Region | Position |
|---|---|
| US | Dependent on Japanese resists for new fabs; DuPont is the main domestic supplier. |
| EU | Merck supplies; PFAS restriction proposal could affect fluorinated PAGs and surfactants (indicative). |
| India | Full import dependence; Tata-Fujifilm and Tata-JSR MoUs (2026). |
| China | Low self-sufficiency in ArF and EUV resists (indicative); state support for local makers. |
| Japan | Dominant supplier; naphtha supply shock from Hormuz in 2026. |
| Middle East | Supplies over 40% of Japanese resist makers' naphtha (TrendForce, Apr 2026). |