According to a report by the Nikkei Chinese Network on January 10, American chemical giant DuPont announced on January 9 that it will produce photoresists (photosensitive materials) required for cutting-edge semiconductor manufacturing in South Korea. Japanese companies hold more than 90% of the world's photoresist, and it is one of the three products that the Japanese government has strengthened its export control over South Korea. The South Korean government has proposed the localization of semiconductor materials, which is attracting foreign-funded factories. If trends such as DuPont increase, it may also affect the competitiveness of Japanese companies.
DuPont will expand its existing plant in Cheonan, central Korea, to produce high-quality photosensitive materials for cutting-edge semiconductor manufacturing technology called "extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography." The plan is to first invest 28 million US dollars to establish mass production technology and start mass production investment as early as 2021.
The company will increase production capacity based on customer orders. The South Korean government and local governments will bear the cost of acquiring land, and also provide exemptions such as taxes.