Japan Semiconductor Market Assessment, By Type, By Components, By Node Size, By End-user, Opportunities and Forecast, FY2018-FY2032F

Japan semiconductor market is expected to observe a CAGR of 4.80% during the forecast period FY2025- FY2032, rising from USD 54.81 billion in FY2024 to USD 79.75 billion in FY2032. Semiconductors have become so important to Japan's economic security and technological advancements that both the government and private sector are prioritizing this industry. Supply chain issues and geopolitical crisis compelled the Japanese government to announce an investment of around USD 25.4 billion in 2023 for domestic production and innovation related to semiconductors, as semiconductors have become a vital factor in modern technology.

The expenditure looks forward to restoring Japan's semiconductor capabilities. Initiations that include setting up new manufacturing facilities, such as the one announced by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (TSMC), in collaboration with leading firms, such as Rapidus, that work on next-generation chips. It leverages public-private partnerships to enhance research and development with the aim of trebling local semiconductor sales by 2030. In a world where global demand for semiconductors is so high, stimulating the semiconductor industry in Japan becomes crucial for economic resilience and sustaining competitive advantages in an increasingly interconnected world. These initiatives are expected to re-establish Japan's competitive advantage in semiconductor production, which is essential for a variety of electronic products and infrastructural systems.

Support by the Government for Local Chip Manufacturing is Augmenting the Market Growth

The Japanese government is promoting local production of semiconductor chips to rebuild its industry. Additionally, significant monetary allocations, such as financial support for local manufacturing and partnerships with international companies, such as TSMC, Samsung Electronics, and Micron, are aimed at enhancing Japan's competitiveness, guaranteeing a reliable source of essential semiconductor parts for different sectors.

For instance, in April 2024, Japan granted USD 3.9 billion in subsidies for the semiconductor manufacturer, Rapidus Corporation, allowing the company to enhance local chip manufacturing and reclaim its place as a worldwide semiconductor powerhouse. The incentives will let Rapidus mass-produce sophisticated 2-nanometer chips by 2027, thereby competing with the industry titans, including TSMC and Samsung. This investment is regarded as a part of Japan's overall aim to boost its semiconductor sector, which includes recruiting international businesses with major government assistance.

A rise in Number of Semiconductor Plants is Proliferating the Market Growth Significantly

The need for semiconductor manufacturing in Japan derives from the country's desire to increase economic security and reduce the dependency on foreign suppliers. The Japanese government has budgeted a hefty sum to encourage local semiconductor manufacturers. The upcoming government initiative seeks to rejuvenate Japan's semiconductor sector, recruit international businesses, and build a robust supply chain, addressing weaknesses revealed by global upheavals and assuring a steady supply of critical technologies for future growth.

For instance, in February 2024, TSMC built its first semiconductor fabrication factory in Japan, near Kumamoto. The factory used TSMC's N28 (28nm-class) technology to make microchips and will employ roughly 1,700 workers when fully operational. The factory will begin producing chips in the second half of 2024, meeting the rising need for ultra-low-power processors in Japan's automotive and consumer electronics sectors.

A Surge in the Utilization of Memory Devices is Fueling the Market Growth

Growing usage of memory devices in Japan is considerably driving the semiconductor market's expansion. Japanese manufacturers are working on improving manufacturing capacities due to increased demand for sophisticated memory solutions in industries, such as consumer electronics, automobiles, and data centers. The trend is driven by the requirement for high-performance data storage and computing solutions, preparing Japan's semiconductor market for significant growth in the forecast years.

For instance, in July 2024, Samsung began creating high-bandwidth memory chips for Nvidia, representing a big step forward in the competitive AI memory chip industry. Following Nvidia's acceptance of Samsung's HBM3 chips, the business plans to bridge the gap with rival SK Hynix. Despite previous deficits, Samsung intends to increase manufacturing, hoping to treble its HBM supply by 2024. This relationship is critical as the demand for AI technology continuously increases, allowing Samsung to capitalize on development potential in the rapidly developing AI memory industry.

Government Initiatives are Amplifying the Market Prosperity

Government measures are essential in the Japanese semiconductor sector, as they are one of the most vital factors driving market growth. These initiatives aim to strengthen the supply chain, stimulate technical developments, and assure economic security, addressing weaknesses revealed by global disruptions and establishing Japan as a semiconductor manufacturing leader.

For instance, in February 2024, the Japanese government announced the expansion of its financial assistance for semiconductor projects to strengthen its local chip sector and improve economic security in the face of rising global competition. The government has allocated around USD 25.83 billion in investments to attract international businesses such as TSMC, fostering collaborations with corporations such as Rapidus, and creating innovative manufacturing facilities. These programs seek to revitalize Japan's once-dominant semiconductor sector, solve supply chain weaknesses, and establish the country as a prominent player in the global fight for technical leadership in prominent industries.

Southern Japan is Expected to Emerge as the Largest Region

Kyushu region in southern Japan is becoming a major region in the semiconductor market due to its huge role in the establishment of TSMC's Kumamoto plant, a major USD 8.6 billion venture in partnership with Sony and Denso. With significant financial support from the government, this establishment is on its way to becoming one of Japan's leading chip manufacturing plants, specializing in state-of-the-art production techniques.

Furthermore, the Japanese government is proactively encouraging the production of semiconductors to improve national security and combat supply chain vulnerabilities. Tohoku and Hokkaido, along with other areas, are being established as semiconductor centers, showing a country-wide push to augment Japan's semiconductor market and regain its competitive position in the global marketplace.

Future Market Scenario (FY2025 - FY2032F)

The Japanese government intends to spend extensively on semiconductor manufacturing, with an emphasis on luring international businesses and improving local production capabilities to boost economic security. This, in turn, is expected to augment the market growth significantly over the upcoming years.

Expansion of semiconductor facilities are excavating the growth of Japanese semiconductors and will continue to gain significant financial revenue over the upcoming years. Moreover, TSMC's upgraded facility will increase manufacturing capacity and competitiveness in the worldwide market, resulting in long-term growth.

Advancements in AI, IoT, and 5G technology are expected to fuel the demand for sophisticated semiconductor devices, further pushing market expansion, and are anticipated to lead to ample opportunities for the market over the forecast years.

Key Players Landscape and Outlook

Large organizations operating in the industry have used crucial tactics such as product development, company expansion, agreements, collaborations, and acquisitions to widen their market reach and maintain the fierce competition.

In February 2024, Toshiba began building a new back-end production facility for the purpose of semiconductor manufacturing at its Himeji Operations in Japan. The plant, set to commence major production in spring 2025, will quadruple Toshiba's automotive power semiconductor production capacity compared to FY2022. The project aims to address the continuously rising demand for power devices in vehicle electrification and industrial automation while achieving carbon neutrality via renewable energy and smart manufacturing efforts.