Probe Card Market - Forecasts from 2024 to 2029

The probe card market was estimated at US$2.651 billion in 2022, growing at a CAGR of 9.21%, reaching a market size of US$4.912 billion by 2029.

The Probe card market is anticipated to show steady growth during the forecast period. The probe card is a Hitech electronic device used for evaluating the chips during the process of manufacturing the electronic chips. Chips are made up of thin semiconductor material called silicon. A probe card serves as an electromechanical gateway that enables the evaluation of a chip's operation while it is still on the wafer or before it is packed separately.

The probe cards are constructed under the mechanical and electrical requirements of the chip. The probe cards are classified into three different categories: needle, vertical, and micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS). Increased advanced technologies, growing demand for the semiconductor industry, and increased investment in the semiconductor sector are driving the probe cards market growth.

Probe Cards Market Drivers

• Increased advanced technologies drive probe card market growth

The rise of new technologies like 5G, AI, autonomous driving, and the Internet of Things (IoT) has boosted the use of semiconductors, consequently driving growth in the probe cards market. There is a need for efficient performance in advanced applications, such as realistic graphics, AI, self-driving cars, and data centers. The above technologies involve the tedious and fast-performing chip where advanced probe cards are required for rapid testing purposes.

The previously built cards struggle in the performance level, where these emerging probe cards pace the development of quality and well-developed next-generation semiconductors. The technological upgradations require faster, more powerful, and low energy consumption chips, thus compelling the practice of refined probe cards for effective testing.

• Growing prevalence of the semiconductor industry enhances probe card market growth

The growing frequency for consumer electronic devices like mobile phones, laptops, and other devices is propelling the additional perquisites for semiconductors. As the intricacy of these electronic devices increases, there is a high requirement for productive testing procedures. Probe cards play a vital role in the protocols as they assure the superiority and functionality of integrated circuits before their wrapping and distribution.

Manufacturers are prioritizing innovation to develop probe cards with enhanced capabilities to handle complex details, increased pin counts, and delicate structures on the wafer. This guarantees accurate testing of advanced ICs, which is crucial for the seamless operation of contemporary electronics.

For instance, according to an article published in the Semiconductor Industry Association in 2023, it states that in 2023, the significance of semiconductors has been on an upsurge due to the growing usage of everyday technologies. In 2022 there were 1 billion semiconductors sold worldwide.

• Increased investment in the semiconductor sector enhances the probe cards market growth.

The increased demand for Integrated Circuits enhances the manufacturers of semiconductors to expand their production facility in the wide range. As these expansions require a vast amount of investment in installing a testing facility, probe cards play a crucial role.

As semiconductor fabrications increase their production of integrated circuits, its crucial to prioritize the quality of the chips. Probe cards are an essential component in establishing the electrical connection between testing equipment and wafers, which is a prior process before the packaging of chips. The investment in the testing process and establishing the semiconductor fabrication center are aligned with each other for the quality output of the integrated circuit.

For instance, according to an article published by the Press Information Bureau in December 2023, it states that the Government of India has approved to establish a semiconductor unit by Micron with a capital investment of 22,516 crores (2.75 billion dollars)

Probe Card Market - Geographical Outlook

• Asia Pacific is expected to grow significantly.

Asia Pacific is anticipated to account for a significant share of the probe cards market. due to various factors, such as the regions having the maximum number of semiconductor manufacturers from South Korea, Taiwan, and Japan, which enhances the probe cards market growth. The region also has the highest consumer electronics goods like mobile devices and wearables, which creates a large base for the tested chips that are being used for these devices in the manufacturing process.

The governments from the regions are taking initiatives to boost the local chip manufacturing industries to enable domestic chip production and enhance testing equipment like probe cards as the above-mentioned factors propelling the probe cards market in the region.

For instance, in November 2023 World Economic forum published article, it states that the Government of Japan is fueling the semiconductor industry by providing a funding of $13 billion to enhance the domestic production of semiconductor.

Probe Cards Market Restraints

• Immense investments curb the probe cards market growth.

The manufacturing and creation of complex new probe cards with advanced features can enhance the investment, which would be high as an introductory part of manufacturing. This creates a greater barrier for new entrants into the market. as it involves constant evolution in chip designing, makes it difficult and ends up with high cost

• Growing technical issues may hinder the probe cards market growth.

Reduction in size and increased complexity of the chip features, probe cards encounter challenges in ensuring accurate alignment and contact with the chip pads. This can lead to damage and wrong alignment which impacts the accuracy while testing.

Probe Card Market Key Industry Developments

• November 2023: Teradyne and Technophobe announced the agreement aimed at propelling innovation in semiconductor test interfaces and fostering rapid growth. This partnership helps both companies in the field of chip testing market.

Probe Card Market Players and Products

• MT Series: The product offered by Japan Electronics Materials is a MEMS probe card specifically designed for testing flip chips containing small copper pillar bumps and pads. This advanced technology incorporates MEMS (Micro Electromechanical Systems) and thin-film multilayer to enable accurate testing.
• V93000: The product introduced by ADVANTEST is specifically designed for the evaluation of semiconductors. The product has various models with different specific features to provide a flexible solution for a variety of sizes. The product has enlisted a range of classes from A class to L class.
• HFTAP Series: The product offered by Formfactor is a cutting-edge probe solution specifically designed to test dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) devices at high speed. Leveraging advanced PCB technology, it can reach up to 3.2 GHz speed, which facilitates effective chip testing series.

The Probe Cards market is segmented and analyzed as follows:

By Probe Type

• Advanced Probe Card
• Standard Probe Card

By Technology Type

• Vertical
• MEMS
• Cantilever
• Specialty

By Application

• DRAM
• Parametric
• Foundry
• Others

By Geography

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Others
• Europe
• United Kingdom
• Germany
• France
• Italy
• Spain
• Others
• Middle East and Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE
• Others
• Asia Pacific
• Japan
• China
• India
• South Korea
• Taiwan
• Thailand
• Indonesia
• Others
• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Others
• Europe
• United Kingdom
• Germany
• France
• Italy
• Spain
• Others
• Middle East and Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE
• Others
• Asia Pacific
• Japan
• China
• India
• South Korea
• Taiwan
• Thailand
• Indonesia
• Others