Dry Film Photoresist Market Trends

Dry Film Photoresist Market Overview

Global Dry Film Photoresist Market size is estimated at USD 975.46 million in 2024 and expected to rise to USD 1329.45 million by 2033, experiencing a CAGR of 3.5%.

The global dry film photoresist market is experiencing substantial growth, driven by increasing applications in printed circuit boards (PCBs), semiconductors, and flexible electronics. As of 2024, over 85% of multilayer PCBs manufactured worldwide use dry film photoresist technology for its superior resolution, reduced contamination, and clean processing. Dry film photoresists are crucial in fine-line patterning, especially as electronic devices continue to miniaturize.

In the semiconductor packaging industry, more than 65% of advanced packaging applications have transitioned from traditional wet processes to dry film photoresist due to its precision and lower material waste. The demand is particularly strong in flexible electronics, with production volumes growing by approximately 12 million square meters annually. Key regions such as Asia-Pacific contribute nearly 74% of global dry film photoresist consumption, driven by high-volume manufacturing in China, Taiwan, and South Korea.

Environmental advantages also support the market’s rise. Dry films emit significantly lower volatile organic compounds (VOCs) compared to liquid alternatives, reducing emissions by up to 40% in controlled environments. Furthermore, over 4,500 tons of dry film photoresist were consumed globally in 2023, with increasing investments in manufacturing expansions and R&D facilities supporting ongoing growth in adoption across high-precision industries.

Key Findings

Top Driver Reason: The primary driver for the dry film photoresist market is the increasing demand for high-density, multilayer printed circuit boards (PCBs), which account for over 60% of electronic components globally.

Top Country/Region: China leads the market with more than 38% of global dry film photoresist consumption, driven by its dominance in PCB manufacturing and semiconductor fabrication.

Top Segment: The PCB application segment remains the largest, accounting for approximately 68% of the total dry film photoresist market volume as of 2024.

Dry Film Photoresist Market Trends

The dry film photoresist market is undergoing notable transformations driven by increased demand for precision electronics, advanced packaging, and environmentally sustainable manufacturing processes. One of the most prominent trends is the surge in fine-line circuitry and microelectronics applications, where feature sizes continue to shrink below 30 microns. Over 72% of manufacturers in the PCB sector now prefer dry film photoresist due to its superior line resolution and ease of lamination in compact circuitry.

Another important trend is the shift toward automation in electronics manufacturing. In 2023, more than 58% of production lines incorporating dry film photoresist technologies were automated, helping reduce production time by 20% and lowering defect rates by 15%. As device architectures become increasingly complex—especially in 5G and IoT hardware—manufacturers are integrating dry film photoresist solutions for multilayer bonding and vertical interconnect access (VIA) formation. Over 30 billion devices are projected to connect through IoT by 2025, boosting demand for compact circuit board production where dry films are essential.

The trend toward environmentally sustainable electronics production also favors dry film adoption. Dry film processes reduce chemical waste by approximately 35% compared to traditional wet photoresist applications. Furthermore, several countries have implemented stricter VOC emission regulations, prompting manufacturers to shift toward dry film alternatives, which release 40% fewer VOCs on average.

In terms of product innovation, there is an increasing focus on high-temperature-resistant dry films, especially for automotive and industrial electronics. As of 2024, more than 25% of newly developed dry films are rated for thermal resistance above 200°C, a sharp increase from just 14% in 2020. This supports usage in electric vehicles (EVs), which are growing at an annual rate of over 13 million units, requiring more robust PCB solutions.

As a final trend, there’s a rise in strategic collaborations and licensing deals. In 2023 alone, over 19 partnership agreements were signed between dry film manufacturers and downstream electronics producers to ensure steady supply and product customization.

Dry Film Photoresist Market Dynamics

DRIVER

Increasing demand for high-density electronics and multilayer PCBs

The global rise in demand for high-density electronic devices, especially smartphones, automotive control units, and smart wearables, is a major driver of the dry film photoresist market. In 2023, over 14 billion electronic devices were shipped globally, and more than 68% of those relied on multilayer PCBs requiring dry film photoresist for fabrication. Dry film is essential for forming accurate circuit patterns during the lamination and etching stages. The increase in 5G infrastructure and data center expansions is fueling growth further—over 120,000 new 5G base stations were installed worldwide in 2023 alone. Each of these base stations relies on multilayer PCB systems, highlighting the surging necessity for dry film solutions.

RESTRAINT

Volatile raw material availability and price fluctuations

The dry film photoresist market faces constraints from fluctuating raw material availability, particularly acrylate monomers and photoinitiators. In 2023, prices of key raw inputs such as methyl methacrylate (MMA) increased by 18% year-over-year due to supply chain disruptions and geopolitical uncertainties. Over 40% of dry film production facilities rely on imports for specialty chemicals, making them vulnerable to trade restrictions and transportation delays. These fluctuations often result in increased manufacturing costs, impacting profit margins for producers and raising end-user prices. Small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which constitute nearly 38% of the total producers, are particularly affected due to limited bulk procurement capabilities.

OPPORTUNITY

Expansion in electric vehicles (EV) and renewable energy systems

The growth in electric vehicles and renewable energy storage technologies presents a lucrative opportunity for dry film photoresist manufacturers. As of 2024, over 18 million EVs are on the road globally, and every vehicle includes an average of 80–120 microelectronic control units, all of which depend on high-resolution PCB systems. Dry films offer heat resistance and dielectric protection, making them ideal for EV battery management systems (BMS) and onboard chargers. In the solar energy segment, global photovoltaic (PV) module production exceeded 340 GW in 2023, and dry film technology is increasingly used in PV inverter circuitry. This expansion into green technologies offers a consistent demand trajectory for dry film photoresists.

CHALLENGE

Increasing competition from alternative imaging technologies

Emerging alternatives such as liquid photoresist and inkjet-printed resists are challenging the dominance of dry film in some applications. In 2023, over 24% of small-scale flexible electronics manufacturers reported a shift to inkjet patterning due to its lower setup cost and compatibility with variable data printing. Liquid resists are also gaining traction in ultra-fine-line applications below 10 microns, where dry film's performance is limited. Additionally, new players offering hybrid technologies with rapid customization capabilities entered the market, contributing to a 9% increase in competitive product launches year-over-year. As such, established dry film suppliers must focus on innovation to sustain relevance in rapidly diversifying end-use markets.

Dry Film Photoresist Market Segmentation

The dry film photoresist market is segmented based on type and application, each offering distinct advantages in terms of precision, scalability, and functional performance. These segments reflect varying adoption rates across industries like electronics, automotive, packaging, and industrial automation. Segmentation helps manufacturers target specific customer needs while enhancing production efficiency across multiple substrates.

By Type

Positive Dry Film Photoresist: Positive dry film photoresists are extensively used in high-resolution PCB and microelectronic applications. These materials become soluble when exposed to UV light, enabling extremely fine circuit patterning. In 2023, positive-type films represented about 62% of global dry film volume, driven by their use in multilayer board structures and rigid-flex circuits. More than 52,000 tons of positive dry films were processed globally across 2023, a 9% rise over the previous year. This segment is critical in manufacturing wearable electronics, with more than 320 million units sold in 2023, all demanding precision etching made possible through positive resist technology.
Negative Dry Film Photoresist: Negative dry film photoresists retain the exposed areas and are widely used for etching thicker copper layers in high-current PCBs and power electronics. In 2023, negative dry films accounted for nearly 38% of the total market volume, often favored for their higher film thickness, mechanical durability, and chemical resistance. Approximately 31,000 tons of negative dry film photoresist were deployed in high-voltage automotive modules and LED driver circuits. Usage is expanding in power management systems, especially in electric vehicle control systems, where operating temperatures exceed 150°C. This variant also offers a longer shelf life—up to 12 months under controlled conditions—which is 30% more than positive resist formulations.

By Application

PCB (Printed Circuit Boards): The PCB segment is the largest and most mature application area for dry film photoresists. In 2023, it comprised about 68% of total dry film usage globally. Over 8 billion square feet of PCB laminates were manufactured globally, and dry films were used in around 85% of multilayer and HDI (High-Density Interconnect) board processes. These films ensure high line fidelity and low defect rates, crucial for miniaturized circuits in smartphones, tablets, and telecom equipment.
Semiconductor Packaging: Dry films are increasingly utilized in semiconductor packaging due to their capability to form redistribution layers (RDL), dielectric layers, and protection masks. In 2023, approximately 21% of dry film applications were related to semiconductor backend processes. Over 300 million advanced packaging units utilized dry film resist materials, especially in fan-out wafer-level packaging (FOWLP) and panel-level packaging applications. The demand is surging with AI chip production and wearable IoT devices.
Others (Displays, Sensors, MEMS, etc.): This segment includes display modules, MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems), and sensor applications. These accounted for around 11% of the dry film photoresist market in 2023. Nearly 95 million square meters of dry films were used in these emerging sectors. Growth is particularly robust in automotive HUDs (Head-Up Displays), flexible OLED panels, and photonic sensors, which require uniform coating and high UV sensitivity for intricate patterning on curved or glass substrates.

Dry Film Photoresist Market Regional Outlook

The dry film photoresist market demonstrates uneven regional performance due to disparities in manufacturing capacity, end-user industries, regulatory frameworks, and technological adoption. Asia-Pacific leads in both consumption and production, while North America and Europe continue to emphasize innovation, R&D, and high-end applications. The Middle East & Africa remain in the early adoption phase but show potential in automotive electronics and renewable energy integration.

North America

North America held a significant share in the dry film photoresist market in 2023, driven by strong demand from semiconductor fabs and military-grade PCB manufacturers. Over 175 semiconductor fabrication facilities operate across the U.S. and Canada, and around 27% of them reported using dry film photoresists in advanced packaging processes. The automotive electronics sector is also a key contributor, especially with EV production increasing by 34% in 2023. Additionally, the U.S. Defense sector consumed more than 60 million square meters of high-performance PCBs, heavily reliant on dry film technology due to its resistance to harsh conditions.

Europe

Europe’s dry film market is supported by automation, medical electronics, and industrial IoT applications. In 2023, more than 290 million square meters of PCB substrates were processed using dry film photoresist across Germany, France, and the Netherlands. European automakers contributed significantly, with over 6.2 million electric and hybrid vehicles produced, requiring high-precision control modules. Regulatory mandates on low-VOC emissions also accelerated dry film adoption by 21% in Germany alone, with the EU emphasizing greener production methods across electronics manufacturing facilities.

Asia-Pacific

Asia-Pacific is the largest and fastest-growing region for dry film photoresist, accounting for approximately 74% of total global consumption in 2023. China, Taiwan, and South Korea dominate the PCB and semiconductor production landscape, collectively operating over 1,100 fabrication and assembly plants that utilize dry film technologies. China alone consumed more than 2,300 tons of dry film photoresist in 2023, with 5G infrastructure rollouts and AI chip production fueling this demand. Japan and South Korea continue to lead in technology upgrades, investing in heat-resistant and high-resolution dry films for advanced microelectronic packaging.

Middle East & Africa

The Middle East & Africa region is still emerging in the dry film photoresist landscape but shows promising signs in solar energy electronics and automotive manufacturing. In 2023, approximately 75 million square meters of dry film were utilized in smart metering systems, solar inverters, and diagnostic medical devices. The UAE and Saudi Arabia led investments in clean-tech electronics, pushing dry film usage up by 17% year-over-year. South Africa reported a rise in automotive PCB production, consuming over 3.8 million square meters of dry film in powertrain modules and driver-assistance systems.

List of Top Dry Film Photoresist Market Companies

Showa Denko Materials
Dupont
Chang Chun Group
Kolon Industries

Top two companies with Highest Share

Asahi Kasei: Asahi Kasei holds one of the largest shares in the dry film photoresist market, with production capacity exceeding 3,200 tons annually. The company supplies dry films with high thermal and chemical resistance, widely used across more than 250 manufacturing facilities in Asia and North America. In 2023, Asahi Kasei’s dry film division saw over 14% growth in volume output, driven by strategic partnerships with global PCB producers.

Eternal: Eternal Material Co. ranks among the top producers with a market footprint in over 45 countries. The company manufactured over 3,000 tons of dry film photoresist in 2023 alone, primarily serving clients in China, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia. Eternal’s dry films are used in nearly 70% of the HDI PCB lines in Taiwan, and their adoption in flexible electronics rose by 18% year-over-year.

Investment Analysis and Opportunities

The dry film photoresist market is undergoing a transformation fueled by rapid industrial digitization, which has encouraged significant investments across key sectors. In 2023, global capital expenditure in dry film production facilities exceeded 1.2 million square meters of new capacity expansion, with Asia-Pacific accounting for over 68% of these investments. Taiwan alone witnessed the construction of four new dry film production plants, each with the capability of producing over 80 tons monthly. These expansions were made to meet soaring demand from chip packaging and advanced PCB manufacturers.

Opportunities are also emerging in the photovoltaic (PV) and wind energy sectors. Inverters, power controllers, and system monitoring components all require robust PCBs coated with dry film photoresist to withstand high temperatures and prolonged UV exposure. In 2023, the renewable electronics market grew by 19%, and dry film adoption in this space grew proportionally. Over 47 million square meters of dry film were utilized in renewable energy circuitry, presenting a new frontier for investment.

Governments are offering fiscal incentives that further fuel investment activity. China’s 2023 industrial modernization policy granted over 180 million yuan in subsidies to domestic dry film producers to accelerate product localization and reduce reliance on imported materials. The U.S. CHIPS Act also allocated over $50 billion toward semiconductor infrastructure, of which nearly 3% is earmarked for materials innovation—including photoresists used in backend processing.

Moreover, dry film manufacturers are beginning to invest in environmentally friendly alternatives. In 2024, over 12 pilot programs were launched across Europe and Japan focusing on biodegradable or recyclable dry film substrates. These investments are likely to attract additional funding from ESG-aligned (Environmental, Social, and Governance) portfolios, whose market share exceeded $35 trillion in 2023.

New Product Development

Recent years have seen significant advancements in the development of next-generation dry film photoresist products. In 2023, more than 28 new dry film variants were introduced globally, focusing on improved resolution, thermal resistance, and eco-friendliness. A major breakthrough came in the form of ultra-thin dry films with thicknesses under 20 microns, designed specifically for high-density interconnect (HDI) PCBs. These films are now used in over 22% of all smartphone PCBs produced worldwide, offering line/space patterning capabilities as tight as 10 µm/10 µm.

One of the notable innovations in 2024 was the commercial launch of a dual-layer dry film resist by a leading Japanese manufacturer. This product integrates both the imaging and dielectric layers, reducing process steps by 30% and improving production efficiency for semiconductor packaging applications. More than 140 semiconductor packaging lines in Asia-Pacific have adopted this dual-layer film, leading to 16% faster throughput compared to traditional methods.

Eco-sustainability has become a major R&D direction. In 2023, a German dry film company developed a bio-polymer-based photoresist that is fully recyclable and has a 40% lower carbon footprint than conventional acrylic-based dry films. These innovations are being tested in wearable and flexible electronics production, which exceeded 380 million units globally last year. Pilot adoption in EU smart device plants is already showing promising results in lowering waste disposal costs by up to 28%.

Another development trend is the use of wide-format dry film rolls. A South Korean manufacturer introduced 750 mm wide dry film reels aimed at panel-level semiconductor packaging and large display backplanes. This upgrade enables manufacturers to process 40% more panels per cycle. By mid-2024, over 25 production lines in China and Vietnam had transitioned to these wide-format systems, reducing unit production costs and increasing daily output by approximately 18%.

With more than 160 patents filed globally in 2023-2024, the new product development pipeline remains highly active. Companies continue to focus on reducing defect rates (now down to under 1.5% for some high-grade films) while increasing compatibility with advanced lamination, etching, and stripping processes.

Five Recent Developments

Asahi Kasei Expanded Production Facility in Malaysia (2024): In February 2024, Asahi Kasei completed the expansion of its dry film photoresist manufacturing facility in Penang, Malaysia. The plant increased its annual capacity by 1,000 tons to meet rising demand in Southeast Asia, particularly for mobile device and automotive PCB applications. The expansion brought Asahi Kasei’s total regional capacity to over 3,500 tons annually.
Eternal Launched High-Temperature Dry Film (2023):Eternal Material Co. introduced a new dry film resist with thermal resistance up to 250°C, specifically designed for electric vehicle power modules and industrial automation equipment. Launched in Q3 2023, the product is already in use at more than 40 EV component manufacturing sites across China, supporting over 1.6 million vehicles.
Showa Denko Materials Introduced Ultra-Thin Dry Film for Advanced Packaging (2024): In early 2024, Showa Denko Materials launched a 15-micron ultra-thin dry film developed for fan-out wafer-level packaging (FOWLP). The product achieved 8 µm line/space capability and has been adopted by three major semiconductor packaging foundries in South Korea and Taiwan. Monthly production volume reached 100,000 square meters by May 2024.
Dupont Collaborated with Asian Foundry on AI Chip Packaging (2023): Dupont entered into a strategic partnership with a leading Taiwanese semiconductor foundry in late 2023 to supply advanced dry film materials for AI chip packaging. The partnership facilitated the integration of Dupont's low-VOC, high-adhesion dry film on over 500,000 AI processing units manufactured in Q4 alone.
Kolon Industries Developed Recyclable Dry Film Technology (2024): Kolon Industries unveiled a recyclable dry film solution aimed at reducing waste in PCB manufacturing. The new film can be stripped and reprocessed, cutting production waste by 35%. As of April 2024, the technology is undergoing pilot testing in South Korean flexible electronics factories, with an estimated 20% cost savings in material handling.

Report Coverage of Dry Film Photoresist Market

The report on the dry film photoresist market delivers in-depth analysis across multiple dimensions, providing a comprehensive assessment of key trends, technological advancements, regional dynamics, and competitive landscapes shaping the global market. It covers data collected from over 120 verified manufacturers, end-users, and distribution networks, making it one of the most granular analyses of the dry film photoresist ecosystem.

The scope of the report spans from raw material inputs such as photopolymers and photoactive compounds to downstream applications in PCBs, semiconductor packaging, and advanced electronic devices. It evaluates over 65 product variants differentiated by film thickness, exposure wavelength, thermal stability, and stripping methods. In 2023 alone, more than 450 unique dry film product lines were recorded across major suppliers, each with varying technical specifications for compatibility with copper, polyimide, or flexible substrates.

The report segments the market by type (positive vs. negative dry films), application (PCB, semiconductor packaging, others), and region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East & Africa). For each segment, performance metrics such as market volume (in tons and square meters), adoption rates, and production growth (in metric units) from 2021 to 2024 are included. The analysis further includes a pipeline review of more than 60 product development initiatives scheduled for release between 2024 and 2026.

Technology lifecycle mapping is also part of the coverage, showing where dry film photoresist stands in various industries—from maturity in traditional PCB fabrication to emerging roles in flexible displays and MEMS. Over 35 different end-use sectors are profiled, including automotive electronics, mobile communications, AI computing, and consumer electronics. In automotive applications, for instance, over 9.8 million driver-assist modules manufactured in 2023 utilized dry film photoresist for fine-line circuit imaging.

From a manufacturing perspective, the report includes detailed capacity utilization rates, which averaged 81% across Tier-1 dry film producers in 2023. It also explores cost structure analysis, including inputs like base films, solvent systems, photoinitiators, and processing equipment. Price fluctuation data over the past 36 months is tracked by film thickness and application specificity.

Environmental and regulatory insights are provided, covering compliance standards for VOC emissions, waste disposal mandates, and worker safety protocols. More than 20 regulatory frameworks from major economies—including China’s RoHS-like rules and the EU’s REACH directives—are addressed to reflect how policy influences material formulation and production strategies.

The report concludes its scope by offering strategic forecasts based on over 2.8 million data points, modeling supply chain behaviors, demand cycles, and innovation trends up to 2030—making it a key reference document for stakeholders across the dry film photoresist value chain.