Strategic Analysis of Tongcheng New Materials' Platform-Based Layout for Semiconductor Materials
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Tongcheng New Materials is a leading comprehensive new materials service provider in China, with stock ticker 688303.SS, listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange in 2018. The company’s business covers three major areas:
| Stage | Time Period | Core Business | Strategic Achievements |
|---|---|---|---|
Phase 1 (1999-2019) |
20 years | Rubber additives agency → independent production | Became the world’s top enterprise in market share of special phenolic resins for tires |
Phase 2 (2020-Present) |
To date | Strategic transformation to electronic materials | Became a domestic leader in photoresists through acquisitions and mergers |
The company’s actual controller, Ms. Zhang Ning, holds more than 60% of the company’s shares through Tongcheng Investment (49.17%) and Virgin Holdings (13.38%), resulting in a concentrated and stable shareholding structure[1].
2020 was a pivotal year for the company’s strategic transformation, as it entered the electronic materials track through two major acquisitions:
- Founded in 2004, it is a major domestic supplier of 8-12 inch integrated circuit photoresists in China
- Launched its first KrF photoresist in 2014, and entered domestic 12-inch production lines in 2017
- As of 2024, the company’s direct shareholding in Beijing Kehua has increased to 96.33%
- Product coverage: Full range including I-line, KrF, ArF, BARC, etc.
- Key customers: 13 12-inch customers and 17 8-inch customers including SMIC, Yangtze Memory Technologies, Huahong Semiconductor, Huali Microelectronics, etc.[1][3]
- The first local manufacturer of TFT-LCD Array photoresists in mainland China
- The largest domestic supplier of liquid crystal positive photoresists in China
- The production capacity of the Qianjiang plant was increased to 8,000 tons/year in 2023
- Its domestic market share rose to 25.9% in H1 2024, with a market share of over 55% in the largest panel factory
- The first domestic supplier to achieve localized production of photoresists for OLEDs[1][4]
The company’s layout in upstream raw materials is one of its core competitive advantages:
- KrF Resins: Full product coverage achieved, with mass production at the hundred-kilogram level in 2023
- Resin Production Capacity: The photoresist resin production line at the Zhejiang Shangyu base is under construction, with a planned hundred-ton capacity reserve expected to be achieved in 2025
- Strategic Investment: In 2024, the company introduced strategic investment from a well-known domestic photoresist enterprise to jointly develop about 20-30 high-end semiconductor photoresist resin products
Key Insight: Unlike Nanda Optoelectronics, which conducts full-chain independent R&D, Tongcheng New Materials’ strength lies in extending its reach to upstream raw materials to achieve an integrated industrial chain layout. This vertical integration not only improves gross profit margin but also enhances supply chain resilience[3][5].
In May 2024, the company launched the
| Project Element | Details |
|---|---|
| Capacity Plan | 250,000 semiconductor chip polishing pads per year |
| Investment Amount | Signed cooperation agreement and started production line construction |
| Latest Progress | Completed production line construction and production verification in H1 2025, and successfully received orders for 8-inch and 12-inch polishing pads from key customers |
| Expected Revenue | Annual sales of nearly RMB 800 million after reaching full production[1][4][6] |
This layout has transformed the company from a single photoresist supplier to an integrated materials supplier for the CMP segment, forming a competitive landscape with Dinglong Co., Ltd.
- PI Materials: Acquired 12% equity in Suzhou Jucui in 2022 to enter the polyimide field
- High-Purity Supporting Reagents: Officially mass-produced and shipped in H1 2024, achieving self-sufficiency in photoresist solvents
| Financial Indicator | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | H1 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operating Revenue (RMB 100 million) | 23.2 | 25.0 | 29.44 | 32.7 | 16.56 |
| Net Profit Attributable to Shareholders (RMB 100 million) | -3.3 | -3.0 | 4.07 | 5.17 | 3.51 |
| Revenue Share of Electronic Materials | - | - | - | ~27% | 26.7% |
| Time Period | Semiconductor Photoresist Revenue | Year-on-Year Growth Rate | Key Product Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| H1 2024 | RMB 128 million | 54.43% | ArF began mass production and order acceptance |
| H1 2025 | Nearly RMB 200 million | Over 50% | KrF achieved nearly 50% year-on-year growth, and new products such as ArF were put into production and scaled up |
| First Three Quarters of 2025 | - | - | Maintained rapid growth momentum |
| Capacity Project | Capacity Scale | Progress Status |
|---|---|---|
| Shanghai Photoresist and Supporting Reagents Project | 11,000 tons of photoresists + 20,000 tons of supporting reagents | Partially completed |
| Qianjiang Plant Display Panel Photoresists | 8,000 tons/year | Already in production |
| Zhejiang Shangyu Resin Production Line | Hundred-ton scale plan | Under construction, expected to be completed in 2025 |
| CMP Polishing Pad Project | 250,000 pieces/year | Production line completed, mass production and shipment already underway |
Through
“In terms of industrial synergy, the platform-based product layout allows the company to provide integrated material solutions for downstream wafer fabs, deeply participate in the process optimization of customers’ production lines, and form close industrial ecological binding with customers. This binding brings extremely high customer switching costs”[5]
| Capability Dimension | Specific Performance |
|---|---|
| Product Stability | KrF photoresists have achieved large-scale and stable supply to major domestic 12-inch and 8-inch wafer fabs |
| Customer Trust | Products have passed strict production line verification by downstream wafer fabs, accumulating rich process data |
| Domestic Substitution Progress | Occupies a leading market share in the domestic KrF photoresist market, and is the largest mass-production supplier of deep-UV KrF photoresists in China[5] |
- Independent supply of phenolic resins (the company’s founding business)
- Self-production and self-use of photoresist resins
- Independent development of high-purity supporting reagents
This integrated layout effectively avoids the risk of dependence on imported core raw materials, forming a
| Indicator | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | First Three Quarters of 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R&D Expenses (RMB 100 million) | 1.47 | 1.58 | 1.80 | 2.17 | 1.77 |
| R&D Expense Ratio | 6.32% | 6.33% | 6.11% | 6.62% | 7.02% |
- The year-on-year growth rate of R&D expenses has remained above 7% for consecutive years, reaching 20.46% in 2024
- Nearly 50 photoresist projects are progressing steadily
- Established an R&D center in Europe focusing on EUV photoresist precursor technology[4]
| Company | Characteristics of Photoresist Business | Advantage Areas |
|---|---|---|
Tongcheng New Materials |
Full coverage of semiconductor + panel photoresists | Largest revenue scale, most complete product line, strong large-scale supply capacity |
Nanda Optoelectronics |
Focus on ArF photoresists | Deep independent R&D gene, high gross profit margin (50%+) for precursor business |
Jingrui Electronic Materials |
I-line + KrF photoresists | DUV technology reserve, wet chemical synergy |
Shanghai Xinyang |
Platform-based layout | Strong performance growth momentum, with net profit increasing by 62.7% year-on-year in the first three quarters of 2025 |
Comparison Conclusion: The three companies each have their strengths, butwhen considering only photoresist products, Tongcheng New Materials has a better revenue scale and business layout[3][5].
- Key Support from the Third Phase of the National Integrated Circuit Industry Investment Fund: Established in May 2024 with a registered capital of RMB 344 billion, focusing on difficult links in the chip industry chain - equipment and materials
- New Regulation from MOFCOM on Japan: On January 7, 2026, the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China initiated ananti-dumping investigationinto imported dichlorosilane originating from Japan, directly catalyzing a comprehensive acceleration of the domestic substitution process for semiconductor materials
- Impact of Japan’s Earthquake: The earthquake in Aomori Prefecture, Japan, caused the production capacity of its high-end photoresist factories to shut down, and the approval cycle for exports to China was significantly extended
- Intensive Production of Wafer Fabs: Enterprises such as Huahong Group, UNIC, and SMIC have production capacities under construction/to be built
- Increase in Procurement Ratio of Domestic Photoresists: Expected to rise to 40% in Q1 2026, with order scheduling extending to Q2[5]
- Stock Price Performance: Limit-up for three consecutive trading days from January 6 to 8, 2026; closing price of RMB 55.61 as of January 14, representing a77.84% surgecompared to the closing price of RMB 31.27 on January 3, 2025
- Planning for H-Listed IPO: In January 2026, the board of directors passed a series of proposals for H-share issuance and listing, planning to list in Hong Kong
- Institutional Rating: Shanghai Securities gave an “Overweight” rating, predicting that the net profit attributable to shareholders from 2025 to 2027 will be RMB 560 million, RMB 683 million, and RMB 883 million respectively[4][6]
| Risk Type | Specific Content |
|---|---|
Downstream Demand Fluctuations |
The semiconductor, display panel, and tire industries are greatly affected by the international situation and macroeconomy |
R&D Progress Risk |
The high-end materials field has high barriers and long R&D cycles, and technological breakthroughs are uncertain |
Customer Onboarding Risk |
The expansion of new products and customer onboarding may not meet expectations |
Raw Material Price Fluctuations |
Fluctuations in the prices of raw materials such as phenolic resins affect gross profit margin |
Intensified Competition |
Enterprises such as Dinglong Co., Ltd. also layout in the fields of CMP polishing pads and photoresists |
- Profitability Gap: Compared with the 50%+ gross profit margin of Nanda Optoelectronics’ precursor business, there is still room for improvement in the gross profit margin of Tongcheng New Materials’ electronic materials business
- EUV Photoresist Layout: EUV photoresists are the next-generation technological high ground. Although the company has established an R&D center in Europe, it is still in the early stage
- Valuation Pressure: The current stock price corresponds to a PE ratio of approximately 36 times for 2025, requiring sustained growth to digest the valuation
| Evaluation Dimension | Weight | Score (1-10) | Weighted Score |
|---|---|---|---|
Strategic Clarity |
15% | 9 | 1.35 |
Execution Capability |
20% | 9 | 1.80 |
Performance Growth Verification |
25% | 8.5 | 2.125 |
Competitive Advantage Barriers |
20% | 8.5 | 1.70 |
Market Space and Policies |
10% | 9 | 0.90 |
Risk Control |
10% | 7 | 0.70 |
Comprehensive Score |
100% | - | 8.575 |
| Verification Dimension | Conclusion |
|---|---|
| ✅ Strategic Logic |
Clear - Taking photoresists as the core, extending to a platform-based layout for semiconductor materials |
| ✅ M&A Integration |
Effective - Achieved control of Beijing Kehua and Beixu Electronics, both contributing to performance |
| ✅ Technological Breakthroughs |
Verified - KrF achieved mass production, ArF began accepting orders, and breakthroughs were made in CMP polishing pads |
| ✅ Customer Expansion |
Verified - Covers mainstream wafer fabs such as SMIC and Yangtze Memory Technologies |
| ✅ Performance Growth |
Verified - The revenue share of electronic materials increased from 0 to 27%, and photoresist revenue grew by over 50% year-on-year for consecutive years |
| ✅ Capacity Implementation |
Verified - Photoresist, resin, and CMP polishing pad projects are progressing as planned |
| ✅ Capital Market Recognition |
Verified - Strong stock price performance, with continuous optimism from institutions |
- Strategic Correctness: Choosing photoresists as a breakthrough point, targeting the urgent demand for domestic substitution of semiconductor materials
- Execution Effectiveness: Quickly acquiring technology and market position through acquisitions, then strengthening core competitiveness through independent R&D
- Performance Verification: The photoresist business has achieved year-on-year growth of over 50% for two consecutive years, and the revenue share of electronic materials continues to increase
- Platform-Based Potential: Expanding horizontally from a single photoresist business to CMP polishing pads, PI materials, etc., with the prototype of a platform-type company taking shape
| Catalyst | Time Window | Impact Level |
|---|---|---|
| Implementation of MOFCOM’s New Regulation on Japan | 2026 | ★★★★★ |
| Full Production and Volume Expansion of CMP Polishing Pads | 2026-2027 | ★★★★☆ |
| Mass Supply of ArF Photoresists | 2026 | ★★★★★ |
| H-Listed IPO Financing | 2026 | ★★★☆☆ |
| Breakthrough in EUV Photoresists | After 2027 | ★★★★★ |
According to the forecast of Shanghai Securities, the company’s net profit attributable to shareholders from 2025 to 2027 will be RMB 560 million, RMB 683 million, and RMB 883 million respectively, corresponding to PE ratios of 36.82x, 27.39x, and 21.42x[1]. Considering the long-term logic of domestic substitution of semiconductor materials and the first-mover advantage of the company’s platform-based layout, the current valuation has medium- and long-term allocation value.
[1] Shanghai Securities Research Report. Initial Coverage Report on Tongcheng New Materials: Dual Leader in Photoresists + Rubber Additives, Electronic Materials Business Rides the Wave of Domestic Substitution. March 2025.
[2] Langge Finance. Tongcheng New Materials, Forging Ahead in Photoresists! Sina Finance. October 14, 2025.
[3] Langge Finance. Domestic Photoresists, Who Will Have the Last Laugh? Sina Finance. December 20, 2025.
[4] Fortune Account. Triple Growth Logics of Domestic Photoresist Leader. Eastmoney. January 10, 2026.
[5] Fortune Account. Sprinting for “A+H” Listing, Tongcheng New Materials’ “Crown Jewel” Becomes a Key Chip. NetEase Finance. January 2026.
[6] Securities Times. Related Reports on Tongcheng New Materials’ Stock Trading Abnormal Fluctuation Announcement. January 2026.
Insights are generated using AI models and historical data for informational purposes only. They do not constitute investment advice or recommendations. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
About us: Ginlix AI is the AI Investment Copilot powered by real data, bridging advanced AI with professional financial databases to provide verifiable, truth-based answers. Please use the chat box below to ask any financial question.
