Semiconductor Metrology And Inspection Equipment Market Size (2024 - 2029)

Semiconductor Metrology and Inspection Equipment Market Analysis

The Semiconductor Metrology And Inspection Equipment Market size is estimated at USD 10.47 billion in 2024, and is expected to reach USD 13.49 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 5.20% during the forecast period (2024-2029).

• Semiconductor metrology and inspection play a crucial role in the management of the semiconductor manufacturing process. The manufacturing process of semiconductor wafers involves approximately 400 to 600 steps, which can be completed within one to two months. Any shortcomings detected early on in the process can result in the wastage of all the efforts put into the subsequent steps. Metrology and inspection procedures are implemented at critical junctures of the semiconductor manufacturing process to guarantee a specific yield.
• Hamamatsu emphasizes the importance of achieving high production yields in order to satisfy the current market requirements for semiconductor wafers. Metrology and inspection play a vital role in the extensive semiconductor manufacturing process to guarantee optimal quality and yield. It is crucial to efficiently characterize and measure thin films, line widths, pattern flaws, and other possible defects to promptly address any issues and minimize expensive downtime. In semiconductor inspection, the utilization of higher radiance UV light sources is essential to reduce inspection durations and improve the precision of evaluating patterns and thin films on wafers.
• Semiconductor metrology plays a crucial role in the semiconductor manufacturing process by offering detailed information on the physical properties of the wafer and facilitating adjustments to the production process to meet specific parameters. This ensures the production of reliable semiconductor devices of high quality while minimizing wastage, thus maintaining the economic viability and sustainability of the manufacturing process.
• The semiconductor sector is continuously aiming for more compact integrated circuits that provide enhanced performance and speeds, resulting in progress in manufacturing techniques. Maintaining accurate oversight of procedures has emerged as a vital factor in manufacturing. With firms like TSMC, Infineon, Qualcomm, and Intel expanding their chip production investments, the demand for metrology equipment and services is expected to rise in the back-end process.
• The demand for cost-effective semiconductor materials is being fueled by smartphones, consumer electronics, and automotive applications. These advancements are inspiring innovations like wireless technologies (5G) and artificial intelligence. Additionally, the semiconductor industry is expected to invest in IoT devices to achieve smart products as the trend of adoption of IoT devices continues to grow. The utilization of smart devices is on the rise and is anticipated to increase further with the global expansion of 5G connections. As per the GSMA, it is estimated that 5G mobile broadband connections will reach 1,100 million (1.1 billion) by the year 2025, while the 5G deployment is expected to encompass 34% of the global population by the same year.
• In order to gain a strong foothold in the market, vendors are actively engaging in strategic partnerships to create advanced multifunction inspection platforms. Recently, k-Space Associates introduced its latest thin film metrology tool, the kSA XRF (X-ray fluorescence), in January 2023. This tool is specifically designed to accurately measure the thickness of films that cannot be reliably measured using optical methods. Its effectiveness has been demonstrated in measuring semiconductor and dielectric layers on various substrates such as glass panels, wafers, and susceptors. These applications are particularly relevant in the fields of solar energy, power generation, and other thin-film technologies.
• However, the market's growth during the forecast period is expected to be hindered efficiently by factors such as high setup costs and a lack of expertise in handling metrology systems. In order to overcome these challenges, service-oriented players are offering on-demand metrology services, providing a professional extension in the specialized field of precision dimensional metrology.
• Furthermore, the growth of the market studied is also challenged by macroeconomic factors, such as the US-China trade dispute. The United States has imposed several sanctions on China, preventing the country from accessing advanced semiconductor equipment. Since China plays a significant role in the market's supply chain, these trends negatively impact the growth of the market studied.

Semiconductor Metrology and Inspection Equipment Industry Segmentation

Semiconductor metrology and inspection are essential for the management of the semiconductor manufacturing process. There are hundreds of steps in the semiconductor wafer manufacturing process that are undertaken in months. Hence, metrology and inspection processes are established at critical points of the semiconductor manufacturing process chain to maintain a specific yield.

The semiconductor metrology and inspection equipment market is segmented by type and geography. By type, the market is segmented into lithography metrology, wafer inspection, and thin film metrology. By lithography metrology, the segment is divided into overlay, dimension equipment, mask inspection, and metrology. By geography, the market is divided into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World. The market size and forecasts are provided in terms of value (USD) for all the above segments.