Global Market Share Survey: Japanese Firms Lead in Semiconductor Materials
Global Market Share Survey: Japanese Firms Lead in Semiconductor Materials
According to the 2025 "Major Goods and Services Market Share Survey" by Nikkei, Japanese companies maintain strong positions in semiconductor-related materials. In silicon wafers, Shin-Etsu Chemical ranks first with a 26.3% share, followed by SUMCO at 17.8%. Together, they hold 44.1% of the market, widening their lead over competitors from Taiwan, Germany, and South Korea. In photoresists, Tokyo Ohka Kogyo, JSR, and Shin-Etsu Chemical occupy the top three spots, with a combined share of 60.5%.
Despite their strength in materials, Japanese firms have a weaker presence in core semiconductor segments like DRAM and NAND flash memory, where South Korean and U.S. companies dominate. For instance, SK Hynix and Samsung lead in DRAM, while China’s CXMT doubled its share to 6% in 2025.
The semiconductor market is projected to grow rapidly, with WSTS forecasting a 90% increase to $1.5112 trillion by 2026. Major players like Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron are making massive investments to expand capacity. To maintain their edge in materials, Japanese companies must similarly commit to large-scale, risk-taking investments.
In contrast, Japan’s automotive sector shows stagnation. Toyota remains the global leader but with only a slight share increase to 12.3%, while Japanese brands are absent from the top five in the EV market. In shipbuilding, Imabari Shipbuilding rose to third place globally with a 7.2% share, benefiting from large container ship deliveries. However, Chinese and South Korean firms dominate the sector, holding the top two positions.
Japan aims to revitalize its shipbuilding industry through government and corporate efforts, targeting a near doubling of output by 2035. Addressing labor shortages and adopting advanced technologies like physical AI will be critical for competitiveness.
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