Little Falls, New Jersey–Nov. 8, 2000–Sales of materials used by the semiconductor industry for chemical mechanical planarization (CMP), such as slurries and polishing pads, continue to grow at a rapid rate. A new report-in-progress slated for release in early 2001 by Kline & Co., of Little Falls, New Jersey, is projecting that the growth rate for these materials is between 20 to 25% per year.

During the past 2 years, the market for all CMP consumables in semiconductor applications has grown from $150 million in 1998 to a projected $300 million globally in 2000, according to information gathered for the report, “The Global Outlook for CMP Technology and Materials 2000-2005,” and could top $900 million by 2005.

The methodology for this study will involve analyzing the markets and consumers for projected counts of CMP operations worldwide and will forecast materials consumption on that basis. The program also will provide data on CMP cleaning compounds, and other related process consumables.