World Sputtering Target Market Grows to 200 billion yen in 2006

World market of sputtering target materials is estimated to increase to 200 billion yen in 2006 when shipment increased for semiconductor, flat panel display and hard disc driver. The unit price increased due to higher price for metals including wiring copper and indium, which is material of transparent conductive film. The market doubled from 100 billion yen in 2003. The market for flat panel display is estimated to double to 100 billion yen in 2006 from 2003. The consumption of target materials increased due to larger panel along with growing demand for flat panel display. The market of Indium tin oxide, which is major material for transparent conductive film, is estimated to increase to 2-3 times at 50-60 billion yen in 2006 from 2003. The market of flat panel display wiring including molybdenum and aluminium is estimated to be 50 billion yen. The target market for semiconductor also increased to estimated 50-60 billion yen in 2006 from 30 billion yen in 2003 when automobile uses more semiconductor and digital appliances market expands. Hard disc market increased to 440 million units in 2006 from 240 million units due to expanded applications including digital versatile disc and portable music player. Higher market price of metals also expanded the market. Indium price surged to US$ 1,000 per kilogram in February-March 2006 compared with around US$ 100 in early 2003. The indium price is still high at more than US$ 7,000. Copper price tripled from 2003.