Chinese media outlet Guancha published an article on the 4th titled 'Japan Cannot Bring Itself to Halt Photoresist Supply'.

The article reported that information recently spread online stating that 'four major Japanese photoresist manufacturers – Tokyo Ohka Kogyo, JSR, Shin-Etsu Chemical, and Fujifilm – have completely stopped accepting new orders for ArF and EUV photoresists for China, and have significantly reduced new orders for KrF photoresists.' It further stated that the information also included content indicating that 'technical support teams stationed in China have been withdrawn, after-sales service and adjustment work have been suspended, and the delivery times for existing contracts have been extended to 6-8 months.'

The article then pointed out that while this information sparked both support and opposition, verification revealed several discrepancies with the facts. 'The information claimed that China's imports of semiconductor photoresists from Japan decreased by 95% in the first quarter of 2026, and imports became zero in February. However, according to the General Administration of Customs of China, photoresist imports from Japan from January to May 2026 were 1,622 tons, 1,495 tons, 1,958 tons, 1,910 tons, and 1,939 tons, respectively, with a cumulative total exceeding 8,900 tons over five months. While there is no data specifically categorizing ArF or EUV photoresists, a look at the overall figures does not confirm a situation of a sharp decline in supply,' it stated.

It also mentioned that 'information about Japan halting photoresist exports to China has circulated in the past.' It explained, 'In 2025, there were reports that Canon, Nikon, Mitsubishi, and others had stopped supplying photoresists to China, but in reality, these companies do not manufacture photoresists themselves, and the information was deemed to have been spread for speculative purposes. In December of the same year, Japanese government officials also denied reports that Japan had stopped photoresist exports to China.'

Regarding the current information, it pointed out, 'No information concerning such a significant supply halt has been confirmed by the Japanese government, specialized Japanese media, or official announcements from the four major photoresist manufacturers.' It argued, 'Nevertheless, the reason this topic garnered significant attention is the concern about what impact the halt of high-performance photoresist supply would have on China's semiconductor industry if it were truly to occur.'

The article explained photoresists as 'an important material for transferring circuit patterns onto wafers in semiconductor manufacturing. If an exposure apparatus is a device that projects circuit patterns, then photoresist is the photosensitive material that records those patterns. Particularly, ArF and EUV photoresists are crucial for advanced semiconductor manufacturing at 7-nanometer, 5-nanometer, and 3-nanometer nodes. High-performance photoresists need to simultaneously satisfy conflicting properties such as resolution, sensitivity, and line width roughness, and in the EUV era, suppressing random defects also becomes a major challenge.'

It also stated, 'High-performance photoresists are not simple material products. Even for the same ArF photoresist, the required formulation differs depending on the application, such as logic semiconductors, DRAM, or NAND, and different products are used for each process within the same chip. This requires long-term research and development, joint verification with customers, and the accumulation of mass-production experience.' It explained, 'Japanese companies have been engaged in photoresist development since the 1960s, and Tokyo Ohka Kogyo developed Japan's first positive-type photoresist for semiconductors in 1972. Subsequently, JSR and Shin-Etsu Chemical also entered the market, accumulating technology alongside the growth of the global semiconductor industry. Decades of formulation technology and mass-production track record have become a major competitive strength for Japanese companies.'

On the other hand, the article asserted, 'Even with high technological capabilities, Japanese companies cannot easily halt supply.' It explained, 'While photoresists involve significant development costs, the market size is limited. According to semiconductor research firm TECHCET, the global semiconductor photoresist market in 2025 will be approximately 3.3 billion dollars (about 520 billion yen). Within this, the Chinese market holds a crucial position, with China's photoresist market size accounting for 28.2% of global demand in 2024. China's demand is said to reach about one-third of the global total, and as the expansion of semiconductor factories in China continues, the Chinese market remains an important sales destination for Japanese companies.'

The article asserted, 'Since 2023, the Japanese government has expanded export restrictions on semiconductor manufacturing equipment and quantum technology, but photoresists have not been included in the scope of regulation. From the perspective of market supply and demand, Japan's photoresist industry has a high dependence on the Chinese market, and if supply were to be halted, the impact on the Japanese side could be greater than on China.' It also noted, 'Domestic production of photoresists is advancing in China,' stating, 'The domestic production rate for products for mature processes is increasing, and mass production of KrF photoresists has begun. Development is also progressing for ArF and EUV. Furthermore, in South Korea, domestic production of photoresists has advanced since the Japan-South Korea trade dispute, and the supply system for ArF photoresists is being established.'

It then stated the view that, 'Japan still holds significant influence in the global photoresist market. However, it is no longer the sole supplier, and Chinese and Korean companies are also increasing their supply capabilities. Even if supply from Japan becomes stricter in the future, the impact would mainly be centered on cost increases, certification, and supply chain adjustments, and would not lead to a complete halt of the entire semiconductor industry.' (Translated and edited by Kitada)