[News] ASML Reports China Accounts for 49% of Q1 Total Sales and 20% of Backlog Orders

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The leading Dutch semiconductor equipment company ASML has reportedly predicted continued strong demand from Chinese customers, with approximately 20% of the company’s backlog attributed to them.

According to reports from Reuters and CNBC, ASML CEO Peter Wennink stated during the first-quarter (January-March) earnings call on April 17th that discussions are ongoing between the Dutch and U.S. governments regarding national security concerns.

In October 2023, the U.S. Department of Commerce expanded its export control regulations on China, with the new provisions taking effect from November 2023.

These regulations specifically restrict the Dutch company ASML from selling certain immersion Deep Ultraviolet (DUV) lithography equipment to Chinese facilities engaged in advanced semiconductor manufacturing. Consequently, Chinese customers turned to purchasing mature process equipment in large quantities, leading to nearly 2 consecutive months of surge in China’s equipment import at that time.

As per information disclosed by ASML during its earnings call, it is currently able to continue serving Chinese customers who have already installed its equipment.

ASML’s CFO Roger Dassen further indicated that Chinese customers account for approximately 20% of the company’s backlog orders. He noted that Chinese chip manufacturers are expanding their production for mature processes, with these chips falling outside the export restrictions of the United States and its allies, primarily used in appliances like refrigerators, phones, toys, and automobiles.

Dassen noted that demand from China is robust due to their expansion of production capacity. As a result, China’s global market share is expected to grow larger in the coming years, leading to increased self-sufficiency compared to the present.

Per ASML’s financial report, during Q1, machine revenue from the Taiwan and South Korean markets decreased from the previous quarter’s 13% and 25% to 6% and 19%, respectively. In contrast, machine revenue from the Chinese market increased significantly from 39% to 49%.

Read more

• [News] China Imports 32 Lithography Systems in 2 Months, Shanghai and Beijing Top Buyers
• [News] Surge in Chip Manufacturing Equipment Imports from the Netherlands to China, Soaring Tenfold After U.S. Tightens Restrictions

(Photo credit: ASML)