$1 billion electronic chemicals business by 2015

DUBLIN, IRELAND: Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Wet Chemicals for Semiconductor Device Processing 2011" report to its offering.

The 2010 market for semiconductor wet chemicals (acids, bases and solvents) totaled $850 million, up 13 percent over the 2009 low, according to a new report from Techcet Group, Wet Chemicals for Semiconductor Device Processing 2011, A Techcet Group Critical Materials Report. The 2011 outlook is for 6 percent additional growth, but recovery to the 2008 high of $968 million won't occur until 2013. The semiconductor wet chemicals market is expected to grow to $1.08 billion by 2015, according to Techcet's forecast.

Mitsubishi's production of hydrogen peroxide in Japan, disrupted by the March, 2011 earthquake and tsunami, is expected to be back to full capacity this month. China's restrictions on fluorspar and phosphor mineral exports continue to put pressure on hydrofluoric and phosphoric acid manufacturers, while rising petroleum prices are increasing the cost of solvents and polyethylene containers.

With the continuing migration of semiconductor manufacturing to Asia, the US has fallen to a fourth place 14 percent in volume consumption of electronic wet chemicals, behind Japan, Taiwan and Korea. In spending on these chemicals, however, the US is slightly ahead of Taiwan and Korea due to intense price competition in Asia and to a disproportionate US demand for higher performance chemicals for leading edge technologies.