DuPont to invest $28million in EUV photoresist lines

US-based chemical firm DuPont will invest $28 million (KRW 32.4billion) on establishing EUV photoresist manufacturing lines in Korea, according to government sources.

The Commerce Ministry said that on Jan. 8, DuPont submitted an investment report to Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency plans to add new manufacturing lines at its plant in Cheonan of South Chungcheong between this year and 2021. The government said it would designate the DuPont plant site as a foreign investment zone and offer benefits.

“In the areas of parts and equipment, we hope to reach out with preemptive investment incentives,” said one high-ranking ministry official. ”Once the investment has been confirmed, the government and related stakeholders such as the municipal governments will form a task force to help the process as much as possible.”

DuPont CEO Jon Kemp also said the company would work closely with potential clients to develop high-quality EUV photoresist.

The new production lines would churn out mainly EUV photoresist and CMP pads, which are needed to even out the semiconductor wafer surface. DuPont is currently the world leader in the area, with an over 80% market share.

Industry watchers say that the latest move from DuPont would help Korea diversify its photoresist suppliers. Currently, Japan is dominating the global market, with companies like JSR, Shin-Etsu and Tokyo Ohka Kyogyo holding a stake of 90% and more.

The Elec is South Korea’s No.1 tech news platform.