Japanese manufacturer HOYA, a leading global supplier of EUV mask blanks, faces capacity constraints that could impede the expansion plans of major clients like Samsung Electronics, according to a report by THE ELEC.
Limited Supply for Growing Demand
HOYA reportedly holds over 70% of the market share in blank EUV mask production. Historically, Samsung Electronics sourced its mask blanks in an 8:2 ratio from HOYA and its competitor AGC (formerly Asahi Glass). However, recent developments have increased Samsung’s reliance on HOYA.
To address the growing demand, HOYA announced a ¥42 billion (approximately $280 million USD) investment to construct a new blank EUV mask factory in Singapore. Despite this investment, the new facility’s full production capacity is not expected to come online until fiscal year 2028. During a recent FY2026 Q2 earnings call, HOYA indicated that its mask blank business is projected to grow by over 20% for the full fiscal year, suggesting that a single new factory may not be sufficient to meet market needs.
Samsung’s Expansion Plans and Alternatives
Samsung Electronics’ semiconductor division (DS Division) anticipates consuming 5,500 blank EUV masks this year, with a projected increase of 25% over the next three years. This significant growth underscores the critical need for a stable and expanded supply chain.
To mitigate potential supply shortages, Samsung is reportedly in the final stages of evaluating products from a domestic manufacturer, S&S Tech. This move suggests Samsung is actively seeking to diversify its supply sources and reduce its dependence on a single supplier, especially given HOYA’s capacity limitations.
The Importance of EUV Mask Blanks
Blank EUV mask blanks are fundamental components in the extreme ultraviolet lithography process, which is essential for manufacturing the most advanced semiconductor chips. The scarcity or limited production capacity of these critical materials can directly impact the ability of chipmakers to scale up production of next-generation processors, memory, and other advanced components. The situation highlights the intricate dependencies within the global semiconductor supply chain and the strategic importance of key material suppliers.
The tight supply situation for EUV mask blanks could potentially delay or limit the production ramp-up of cutting-edge chips, affecting not only Samsung but also other players in the semiconductor industry that rely on advanced lithography techniques.
