Lithography Market Exposes Strong GrowthLithography Market Exposes Strong Growth

MUNICH, Germany — In 2006, the semiconductor lithography market reached a new record: With a volume of $6.7 billion, it broke its last record dating back to 2006, market research company The Information Network has calculated.

According to the analysts, the lithography market will grow 11 percent in 2007 to $7.4 billion. In 2008, the market will experience another thrust, growing 38 percent to $10.2 billion, The Information Networks predict.

In 2006, revenues in the semiconductor lithography industry already grew by an impressive 40 percent, significantly more than the 23 percent growth for the entire semiconductor front-end equipment market, said The Information Network president Robert N. Castellano. Unit shipments increased 22 percent while average selling prices increased 15 percent.

Dutch lithography equipment vendor ASML achieved a market share of 60.8 percent in 2006, up from 53.3 percent in the year before. Second was Nikon with a 24.5 percent market share.

On a unit basis, sales of immersion deep ultraviolet (DUV) tools climbed significantly from 7 units in 2005 to 29 units in 2006. Krypton Fluoride Laser (KrF) systems, however, led the market with a share of 30 percent of the shipments.

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