Nikon's Lithography Strategy Adjustment: Breaking Through with Cost Advantages
2026-06-02
In April 2026, Yasunobu Omura officially assumed the role of President and CEO of Nikon, inheriting what was arguably the worst financial report in the company's history. For the fiscal year ending March 2026, Nikon projected a net loss of approximately 85 billion yen, with its core precision machinery business facing the dual pressures of inventory write-downs and order contraction. During the first half of fiscal year 2025, Nikon sold only nine semiconductor lithography units—a volume incomparable to ASML's shipments. Against this backdrop, a strategic breakthrough for the lithography business became the top priority for the new management team.
Price Differentiation Strategy
Yasunobu Omura recently stated explicitly that Nikon would leverage its cost advantages in component production to offer customers more competitive pricing, thereby engaging in differentiated competition with ASML in the lithography equipment market. Industry estimates suggest that Nikon's ArF lithography systems could be priced 20% to 30% lower than comparable ASML products.
The core source of this confidence lies in Nikon's high in-house production ratio for core components—from optical lenses to key modules—which enables a supply chain cost structure significantly superior to that of competitors relying on globally dispersed procurement. Omura stated directly: "Even if we sell at reduced prices, we can still secure substantial profits."
Customer Expansion
Product Roadmap
Nikon has established a clear product advancement plan. On one hand, the company plans to ship its next-generation dry ArF lithography system, the NSR-S333F, within fiscal year 2026. Launched in September 2025, this model can process over 300 300mm wafers per hour, with an overlay accuracy (MMO) of less than 4nm. On the other hand, Nikon plans to introduce a new immersion ArF lithography system compatible with the ASML-dominated ecosystem by fiscal year 2028, to cover broader advanced process demands.
Conclusion
Nikon's strategic adjustment is not merely a price war, but rather a restructuring of competitive logic based on vertical integration advantages. In a global lithography equipment market where ASML holds over 80% market share, if Nikon can penetrate top-tier customer supply chains with a 20% to 30% price advantage, it will not only open growth space for its own lithography business but may also shake the unilateral pricing system for high-end lithography equipment.
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