Electronic chemicals market seen topping $131B by 2030

The electronic chemicals and materials market is projected to surpass $131 billion by 2030 as semiconductor manufacturing, AI chips and new fabrication capacity drive demand for ultra-pure inputs. Asia-Pacific and China are expected to lead the expansion, while wafers remain the largest product segment.

Why it matters: - The market is becoming a larger input to the semiconductor supply chain as chipmakers need more ultra-high-purity chemicals, gases and substrates. - The sector’s growth tracks demand for smartphones, computers, data centers, AI, 5G, IoT and electric vehicles. - The report projects the market will reach more than $131 billion by 2030. - The broader specialty chemicals market is forecast to reach about $1.001 trillion by 2030, and the overall chemicals market about $7.007 trillion. - Electronic chemicals and materials are expected to represent nearly 2% of total chemicals market value by 2030.

What happened: - The Business Research Company published a 2026 forecast report on the global electronic chemicals and materials market covering 2026 to 2035. - The market is forecast to grow at a 10% compound annual growth rate through 2030. - Asia-Pacific is projected to be the largest region by 2030 at $48 billion, up from $32 billion in 2025. - China is expected to be the largest country market by 2030 at $24 billion, up from $16 billion in 2025. - Merck Group led global sales in 2025 with a 0.5% market share. - The top 10 companies held just 3% of total revenue in 2025, showing a fragmented market.

The details: - The market includes wafers, atmospheric and specialty gases, ancillary and photoresist chemicals, CMP slurries and pads, and other products. - Wafers are forecast to be the biggest segment in 2030 at 43% of the market, or $56 billion. - The report places wafer fabrication and packaging as the main application areas. - End users include semiconductor manufacturers, integrated device manufacturers, electronics and electrical component producers, and display panel manufacturers. - Asia-Pacific growth is tied to more semiconductor fabrication plants, new electronics factories, higher use of ultra-high-purity materials and government support for localized supply chains. - China’s growth is linked to more consumer electronics production, more local wafer fabs, demand for specialty materials and domestic semiconductor policy support. - The report says stronger semiconductor demand adds about 2.5% annual growth to the market. - Growth from AI, 5G, IoT and electric vehicles adds roughly 2.3% yearly growth. - New semiconductor manufacturing infrastructure adds about 2.1% annual growth. - The report says the most promising segments could add more than $51 billion between 2025 and 2030. - Wafers are projected to add $21 billion, atmospheric and specialty gases $13 billion, ancillary and photoresist chemicals $10 billion, CMP slurries and pads $5 billion, and other products $2 billion. - Product demand is being shaped by advanced chip packaging, next-generation lithography, ultra-pure material requirements and process improvements. - Eastman Chemical Company launched EastaPure isopropyl alcohol in August 2024 as a high-purity solvent for semiconductor fabrication. - The product is designed to improve wafer cleaning, impurity removal and compatibility with polar resins. - Request a free sample of the report. - Access the detailed market report.

Between the lines: - The market’s fragmentation suggests no single supplier has broad pricing power, even though the technology barriers are high. - High-purity standards, complex manufacturing and supply-chain reliability appear to matter more than scale alone. - The emphasis on regional self-sufficiency signals a continued push by governments and chipmakers to localize critical materials supply. - Competition is likely to center on purity, yield improvement, process compatibility and capacity expansion rather than commodity pricing.

What's next: - The report expects continued investment in semiconductor fabs, packaging plants and research centers to sustain demand for electronic chemicals and materials. - Companies are likely to keep expanding capacity, refining formulations and investing in more sustainable manufacturing processes. - Further growth should continue to favor suppliers tied to advanced chips, larger wafer sizes and next-generation lithography. - Market leadership will likely remain broad and fragmented as customers diversify sourcing across multiple material providers.

The bottom line: - Electronic chemicals and materials are moving deeper into the center of semiconductor growth, with Asia-Pacific and China leading expansion and wafers remaining the biggest revenue pool.