[News] JSR Reportedly Plans First Taiwan Production Plant to Supply Advanced EUV Photoresists to TSMC

Japan’s semiconductor materials supplier JSR is reportedly planning to build a photoresist plant in Taiwan to supply TSMC. According to Nikkei, the company intends to establish its first semiconductor materials production facility in Taiwan. JSR, which already operates R&D and sales bases in Taiwan, is said to be preparing an investment worth tens of millions of dollars, with the plant targeted to come online as early as 2028.

Notably, the report adds that JSR will collaborate with TSMC to develop advanced photoresists. To support the project, a new joint venture with a local partner was established in early April.

JSR aims to safeguard its position in high-value, leading-edge materials by deepening collaboration with TSMC, potentially involving the chipmaker’s engineers from the early stages of development, the report notes. More broadly, Japanese photoresist makers are seeking to strengthen ties with TSMC as they face intensifying competition from emerging Chinese players.

The report also notes that JSR plans to promote its metal oxide resists to TSMC, citing their suitability for extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography. In addition to photoresists, JSR is considering producing other materials at the Taiwan facility, including abrasives used to smooth semiconductor substrates.

In April 2026, according to Economic Daily News, JSR partnered with Applied Materials to establish an advanced chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) solutions joint research center in Hsinchu, also aimed at serving TSMC. At the opening ceremony, JSR CEO Tetsuro Hori said that geopolitical factors and customer requirements are major drivers behind the push for localized production.

Prior to its Taiwan expansion, JSR had focused on strengthening its presence in South Korea to tap strong demand from the memory sector, Nikkei notes. The company is currently building a facility scheduled to begin operations in 2026, which will produce tin-based metal oxide resists for Samsung Electronics and SK hynix.

JSR’s Market Position and Taiwan Expansion Strategy

JSR is a key player in the photoresist market. According to Nikkei, Japanese companies collectively account for roughly 80% of global photoresist supply. JSR is the second-largest supplier, with a 19% market share by sales in 2025. The other two companies in the top three, Tokyo Ohka Kogyo and Shin-Etsu Chemical, already have production bases in Taiwan.

The company operates semiconductor materials production facilities in Japan, the U.S., and Belgium, the report notes. When developing products for Taiwan, the company currently ships samples from Japan, a process that can take several weeks and slow overall development.

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(Photo credit: JSR)