ACM Research Q1 2025: Navigating Contradictions in Market Share, Shipment Growth, and Competitive Outlook

Market share in plating, shipment growth expectations, market growth and competition in 2026, shipment growth and market expectations, and market share and competition are the key contradictions discussed in ACM Research's latest 2025Q1 earnings call.



Revenue and Shipment Growth:
- ACM Research reported revenue of $172 million for Q1 2025, up 13% year-on-year, while shipments were $187 million, a 36% decline year-on-year.
- Revenue growth was driven by demand for single wafer cleaning tools, ECP, and furnace products, while the shipment decline was due to a strong comparison from the previous year, with a return to year-over-year shipment growth expected in Q2.

Product Performance:
- Revenue from single wafer cleaning, Tahoe, and semi-critical cleaning tools grew by 18%, representing 75% of total revenue.
- Growth was led by strong demand for SAPS and Ultra C V backside cleaning tools, along with the qualification of a high-temperature SPM tool in China.

Geographic Expansion and Market Share:
- ACM Research's market share in both wafer cleaning and etching in China reached more than 25%, translating to over 9% global market share per category.
- This success was attributed to customer trust and the strength of ACM's product portfolio, with plans to expand further into the global market and invest in U.S. production facilities to reduce tariff uncertainty.

Technological Innovation and Awards:
- ACM's Ultra ECP ap-p panel level plating tool received the 2025 3D InCites Technology Enablement Award, highlighting ACM's innovation in advanced packaging applications.
- The recognition reflects ACM's commitment to delivering innovative technology solutions, enabling it to play a key role in diverse semiconductor requirements, particularly for AI sectors.