Development of High-Performance Photosensitive Materials such as ArF and PAG and Expansion of Production Capacity

「In photoresist materials, the company is preparing to construct a new photoresist materials plant to expand supply capacity for advanced semiconductor materials, and has also acquired land for future business use.」

「当社では、2023年３月期からスタートした５ヵ年の中期経営計画「Ｂｅｙｏｎｄ５００」に基づき、2024年には感光材開発分析棟および先端分野向け材料の大規模な新規生産設備が完成しました。これらの設備投資により製造技術力・分析体制が強化され、最先端品質を満たす安定供給体制が整いました。」

「In October 2024, a large-scale new production facility was completed to increase production capacity for photoresist materials used in advanced semiconductors. Operations and depreciation commenced, and product qualification and sample shipments to customers have begun.」

「Against this backdrop, based on the five-year medium-term management plan Beyond500, which began in the fiscal year ended March 2023, the company is working to strengthen its supply capacity for the semiconductor market, where demand is expected to continue expanding.」

「④ The company continuously develops new products, new processes and new services.」

「Although costs associated with continued technology development for advanced applications and production capacity expansion increased,」

「In the photosensitive materials business, sales of photosensitive materials for displays declined as demand for flat-panel displays weakened, but demand for materials for advanced applications, particularly logic semiconductors, remained strong. Sales also increased due to the yen’s sharp depreciation. As a result, net sales in the business rose to ¥10,481.232 million, up ¥828.693 million, or 8.6%, year on year. Although costs for technology development for advanced semiconductor applications and production capacity expansion increased, these were absorbed, and operating profit increased to ¥1,905.930 million, up ¥228.389 million, or 13.6%.」

「In addition to focusing on increased production to meet this demand, the company benefited from the yen’s depreciation, resulting in higher sales. As a result, net sales in the business increased to ¥5,511.228 million, up ¥443.893 million, or 8.8%, year on year, but operating profit was ¥998.093 million, down ¥3.782 million, or 0.4%, due to upfront investment in technology development for advanced semiconductor applications and production capacity expansion, as well as higher raw-material costs.」

「To meet this demand, the company focused on increasing production, resulting in higher sales of both photosensitive materials and polymers. As a result, net sales in the business were ¥20,574.717 million and operating profit was ¥3,297.783 million, up ¥1,473.971 million, or 80.8%, from the previous fiscal year.」

「To meet this demand, the company focused on increasing production, resulting in higher sales of both photosensitive materials and polymers. As a result, net sales in the business were ¥14,813.994 million and operating profit was ¥2,430.209 million, up ¥1,062.737 million, or 77.7%, year on year.」

「To meet this demand, the company focused on increasing production, resulting in higher sales of both photosensitive materials and polymers. As a result, net sales in the business were ¥9,652.539 million and operating profit was ¥1,677.541 million, up ¥795.687 million, or 90.2%, year on year.」

「Amid the continuing semiconductor shortage, strong demand continued for advanced semiconductors and displays, supported by expectations of an economic recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic, increased demand for communications, data centers and PCs as working from home expanded amid global measures to prevent the spread of infectious diseases, the initial adoption of 5G smartphones and stay-at-home demand for game consoles. Semiconductor demand also recovered sharply as the automotive and other industries rebounded. The company focused on increasing production, and sales of photosensitive materials and polymers were extremely strong across all areas. As a result, net sales in the business were ¥5,067.334 million, and operating profit was ¥1,001.876 million, up ¥458.620 million, or 84.4%, year on year.」

「The company conducts research and development into advanced materials, including materials for EUV resists, for which full-scale mass production has begun in semiconductor manufacturing processes.」

「While restrictions on going out associated with the spread of COVID-19 had still not subsided worldwide, strong demand for semiconductors and displays continued. As a result, production of advanced semiconductors continued to increase, and sales of advanced photosensitive materials and polymer products remained strong. As a result, net sales in the business were ¥11,467.760 million, up ¥1,038.988 million, or 10.0%, year on year, and operating profit was ¥1,367.472 million, up ¥270.754 million, or 24.7%.」

「Although demand for semiconductors and displays related to stay-at-home requests and restrictions accompanying the spread of COVID-19 had run its course, production of advanced semiconductors continued to increase due to higher demand for smartphones and demand growth ahead of US restrictions on sales of semiconductor products to China. Sales of advanced photosensitive materials and polymer products remained strong. As a result, net sales in the business were ¥7,336.550 million, up ¥158.758 million, or 2.2%, year on year, and operating profit was ¥881.853 million, up ¥44.708 million, or 5.3%.」

「Sales of new polymer products, advanced products for memory applications and advanced products for logic applications, including those for EUV exposure, all increased substantially.」

「In particular, production of devices using new EUV exposure entered full swing, significantly increasing demand for advanced products, including those for EUV. Other new polymer products also increased steadily.」

「Demand for new photosensitive materials for the next generation of EUV also expanded steadily, while growth in materials for semiconductor back-end processes, a new product area for the company, contributed to higher overall sales of photosensitive materials.」

「Although semiconductor memory and display market conditions slowed, products for logic applications remained strong. Demand for new photosensitive materials for the next generation of EUV also grew steadily, while sales of materials for semiconductor back-end processes, a new product area for the company, increased. As a result, overall sales of photosensitive materials grew steadily. Net sales in the business were ¥7,177.792 million, up ¥1,126.328 million, or 18.6%, year on year, and operating profit was ¥837.145 million, up ¥215.570 million year on year.」

「Although semiconductor memory and display market conditions slowed, orders for photosensitive materials and sales of naphthoquinone-based photosensitive materials (PAC), as well as photosensitive materials for KrF and ArF exposure (PAG), remained firm as customers secured inventories of the company’s products and their own products. Demand for new photosensitive materials for the next generation of EUV also grew steadily, and overall sales of photosensitive materials grew steadily.」

「Mass production of new photosensitive materials for the next generation of EUV and development of new photosensitive materials for advanced semiconductors also progressed, increasing sales of new products.」

「Mass production of new photosensitive materials for the next generation of EUV progressed, increasing sales of new products.」

「Sales of new photosensitive materials for the next generation of EUV began, increasing sales of new products.」

「In the field of materials for chemically amplified resists, the company’s core technology, it conducts research and development into advanced materials, including materials for EUV resists expected to enter volume production in future semiconductor manufacturing processes.」

「To address these market conditions, the photosensitive materials business is conducting research and development into new materials and manufacturing technologies and enhancing quality control, with the aim of becoming a company that contributes through materials to the world’s most advanced semiconductor technologies. The company also aims to expand the business and improve profitability by further increasing production capacity to meet growing global demand.」

「To address these market conditions, the photosensitive materials business is conducting research and development into new materials and manufacturing technologies and enhancing quality control, with the aim of becoming a company that contributes through materials to the world’s most advanced semiconductor technologies. The company also aims to expand the business and improve profitability by further increasing production capacity to meet growing global demand.」

「To address these market conditions, the photosensitive materials business is conducting research and development into new materials and manufacturing technologies and enhancing quality control, with the aim of becoming a company that contributes through materials to the world’s most advanced semiconductor technologies. The company also aims to expand the business and improve profitability by further increasing production capacity to meet growing global demand.」

「Specifically, the company is developing new resins and photoacid generators (PAGs) for resists used with KrF and ArF excimer lasers and next-generation EUV, while expanding production facilities and steadily increasing sales of liquid-crystal photosensitive materials for display applications.」

「④ The company continuously develops new products, new processes and new services.」

「④ The company continuously develops new products, new processes and new services.」

「③ The company continuously develops new products, new processes and new services.」

「Specifically, the company is developing new photosensitive materials for resists used with ArF excimer lasers and new photoacid generators (PAGs), while expanding production facilities and steadily increasing sales of liquid-crystal photosensitive materials for display applications.」