Recovery Predicted for Photomask Market

NEW TRIPOLI, Pa., Sept. 9 -- The global photomask market is poised for recovery in 2000, according to a report published by The Information Network, a market research firm. Industry consolidation is continuing and the largest photomask companies will benefit, said Robert N. Castellano, Information Network president. Within the past year, captive mask shops from Harris, Hitachi, Hewlett-Packard and Sony have sold their businesses to the merchant photomask companies. Noting that merchant companies are continuing to emphasize smaller features, Castellano said, Photronics and DuPont Photomasks exhibited a 30 percent and 19 percent increase, respectively, in photomask sales with features in the 0.25-µm and lower range.
The report predicts that the photomask market, including in-house manufacturing and merchant suppliers, will rise 8.2 percent to reach $2.2 billion in 2000. Revenues for 1999 are expected to drop 3.1 percent from the $2.1 billion reported in 1998.