ASML, a prominent chip machine manufacturer, has revealed that the Dutch government has partially revoked an export license related to the shipping of specific chip-making equipment to China. This decision comes as a consequence of recent export restrictions imposed by the United States.
ASML, headquartered in Veldhoven, Netherlands, disclosed that the affected shipments encompass certain lithography systems crucial for chip manufacturing.
“The Dutch government has recently partially revoked the license for the shipment of NXT:2050i and NXT:2100i lithography systems in 2023, affecting a limited number of customers in China,” ASML said in a news statement.
ASML maintains a dominant position in the market for lithography systems, leveraging laser technology to facilitate the creation of chip circuitry.
Despite these developments, ASML affirmed that it does not anticipate a significant impact on its financial projections for 2023 due to these license alterations or the latest U.S. export control limitations.
ASML earlier said it expects Q4 2023 sales between €6.7 billion and €7.1 billion and a gross margin between 50 percent and 51 percent. ASML also earlier revealed its sales will grow towards 30 percent in 2023. ASML’s Q3 2023 revenue touched €6.7 billion with a gross margin of 51.9 percent.
China has emerged as a pivotal market for ASML, ranking as its largest market in the third quarter of 2023, surpassing Taiwan and South Korea. However, recent regulatory shifts have prompted scrutiny and challenges from Dutch lawmakers directed at the Netherlands’ Trade Minister concerning unilateral U.S. rules governing the export of another ASML chipmaking machine to China, Reuters news report said.
“In recent discussions with the US government, ASML has obtained further clarification of the scope and impact of the US export control regulations,” the semiconductor equipment manufacturer conveyed in a statement. “ASML is fully committed to complying with all applicable laws and regulations, including export control legislation in the countries in which we operate.”
