News Article
Techcet forecasts $3.2b gas business by 2012
Electronic gases market recover to 2008 levels
The 2010 market for electronic gases totaled $2.74B, up 16% from the prior year, according to a new report from Techcet Group, “Gases for Semiconductor Device Processing 2011, A Techcet Group Critical Materials Report.” The 2011 outlook is for 11% growth overall, with the electronic specialty gases segment leading the way with 12% growth to $1.9B. The combined electronic gases market is expected to reach beyond $4.1B by 2015, according to Techcet’s forecast.
Sales of specialty gases correlate very closely with silicon wafer consumption, and rode the roller coaster down and back up with the semiconductor business through the 2009 recession. Bulk gases do not track as closely with wafer starts because the gas volumes attributed to other electronic applications are large in comparison to IC bulk gas. Driven by consumer spending in lieu of vacations and travel, TFT display manufacturing boosted bulk gas consumption 55% over 2009, leading overall gas revenues back to 2008 levels. Vigorous growth in bulk gases is expected to continue with projections of annual market expansions of 10% for ICs and TFTs, 8.5% for LEDs and 24% for PV over the next several years.
The electronic gas market share leadership position is now a three-way contest among Air Products, Taiyo Nippon Sanso and Air Liquide, each with just under a quarter of the market, followed by Praxair, BOC/Linde, OCI and others.
The report discusses the global issues that are affecting the market dynamics and supply chain stability for He, NF3, ion implant and other dopant sources, and specialty gas compounds affected by the global supply chain impacts on rare earth metals which are critical to electronics manufacturing. The outlook for future gas usage as shaped by environmental concerns, legislative changes, and geopolitical issues are also discussed. In addition to market analysis, critical supply chain issues and technical trends, the report includes profiles and news updates for the major suppliers to the global electronic gases industry.
