After Four Years of Gloom, Materials Makers See Sunshine

摘要

For the first time in four years, the production of electronic materials in Japan is getting back on the recovery track. According to the Electronic Materials Manufacturers Association of Japan (EMAJ), production of electronic materials in 2004 should increase 4 percent from 2003 to ￥300 billion. Falling market prices are holding down increases in production value and pulling down profits for manufacturers of materials. However, manufacturers are encouraged by the recent increase in demand, stemming from the marked growth of home and automotive digital electronic products. Manufacturers have noticed especially significant growth in the area of semiconductor devices and electronic components, which are the most common applications for electronic materials. To cultivate continuing demand in these growth areas, materials manufacturers will step up efforts in technology-oriented fields.