NF3 market to reach 19.5K metric tons by 2012

SAN JOSE, USA: Driven by growing demand in LCDs and solar energy applications, the world nitrogen trifluoride (NF3) market is projected to reach 19.5 thousand metric tons by 2012. Growth in Asia-Pacific, the largest market for nitrogen trifluoride worldwide, stems from Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan. In the medium to long term, China is expected to emerge as the growth engine of the region.

Asia-Pacific dominates the world NF3 market, with a 67.5 percent share estimated in the year 2008 due to the concentration of semiconductor industry, the major end-use market for NF3. The region is also expected to post the highest growth with a projected CAGR in nearly 20 percent over the period of 2011 through 2015.

Consumption of NF3 in the European market is likely to rise by over 353 metric tons between the period 2008 to 2012, as stated by the recent report published by Global Industry Analysts Inc. For the same period, consumption of nitrogen trifluoride in United States is expected to rise by approximately 710 metric tons.

Nitrogen trifluoride (NF3) is primarily used in semiconductor and flat panel display (FPD) industries as a chamber cleaning gas. Semiconductors end-use market represents the largest and the most mature application area for NF3, accounting for over 45 percent share estimated in 2008. Demand for NF3 from the LCDs end-use market, is forecast to display robust growth at a projected CAGR of 13.8 percent over the period 2011-2015 and surpass semiconductor industry demand by 2012.

In response to the rapid growth in the NF3 market, industry participants are expanding their production capacities and broadening product mix. Leading global and regional players operating in the industry include Air Products and Chemicals Inc., American Gas Group, Central Glass Co. Ltd, Kanto Denka Kogyo, Mitsui Chemicals Inc., Anderson Development Co., Sodiff Advanced Materials Co. Ltd and Ulsan Chemical Co. Ltd.