China crucial to ASML's global growth, executive says

Dutch chip manufacturing equipment provider ASML Holding NV is committed to serving the Chinese market within the boundaries of all applicable laws and regulations, a senior executive said, adding that artificial intelligence has become a key driver for increasing demand for chips across many industries.

"Like other major markets, China is crucial to ASML's global growth and long-term development," Shen Bo, executive vice-president of ASML and president of ASML China, said in an interview with China Daily. "According to our recent third-quarter finance results, we project that China will account for over 25 percent of ASML's total sales in 2025."

The semiconductor industry is inherently cyclical, according to Shen. Like other markets, China also experiences these periodic fluctuations which is a normal dynamic for the sector.

"Over the past two years, China's revenue share was exceptionally high, mainly because we were working through a substantial backlog," Shen said. "Looking ahead, we expect China's share to align more closely with its proportion in our global customer mix. This does not indicate that the market is in decline."

"China remains an important part of the global semiconductor industry and a key market for ASML's long-term development," Shen added. "We maintain a fundamentally positive view of China's mainstream semiconductor nodes and believe the overall market remains healthy, continuing to play an important role in applications such as internet of things, automotive electronics, and consumer devices."

According to the senior executive, this year marks ASML's seventh participation in the China International Import Expo. "The expo is a valuable platform for strengthening communication and exchange, and we look forward to deepening interactions with Chinese partners, customers, and industry stakeholders," Shen said.

"Through our holistic lithography solutions, ASML is committed to helping Chinese customers capitalize on the mainstream market opportunities while abiding by the laws and regulations where we operate," he added.

At the ongoing CIIE in Shanghai, ASML presented its holistic lithography solution focusing on mainstream nodes — integrating lithography systems, computational lithography, and metrology and inspection — to help customers achieve higher yield with lower energy consumption and cost.