China Speeds Up Chip Equipment Buy from ASML
The Chinese mainland was the third-largest revenue source for Dutch semiconductor equipment maker ASML in 2020, even as the U.S. tightened the screws on non-American companies providing China with the hardware, software and other services it needs to build up its chip sector.
Last year, ASML’s sales of lithography machine systems totaled 10.3 billion US$12.5 billion, about 18% of which went to customers on the Chinese mainland, representing a year-on-year increase of 6%.
Taiwan, home to Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC), one of the world’s largest chipmakers, was the biggest buyer of ASML’s lithography machine systems last year, accounting for 36% of its sales, followed by South Korea with 31%.
ASML is one of only a few companies capable of making equipment to produce the most advanced microchips. It has increasingly been pulled into the ongoing U.S. campaign to curb China’s ambitions to become a global tech leader.
In the face of Washington’s growing list of tech export restrictions on Chinese companies, ASML sell its deep-ultraviolet (DUV) chip-making equipment directly from its Dutch headquarters to customers in China.
ASML made no comment on whether the U.S. policy would affect direct sales of there latest generation of equipment using a more advanced technology called extreme ultraviolet (EUV) technology.
It is good news to the whole semi industry, which has also benefit packing materials supply of WLCSP precision carrier and cover tapes, which Nexteck Singapore Pte Ltd process its market in China, Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines.
