Yazılar

ASML Reports Export Curbs Impacted Customer Spending in 2024

/in /tarafından

ASML, the Dutch semiconductor equipment manufacturer, stated in its annual report that uncertainties surrounding export controls weakened customer demand in 2024. The company, which has faced multiple waves of U.S.-led restrictions on exports to China, cited concerns over technological sovereignty and geopolitical factors affecting capital expenditures.

Major clients, including TSMC, Samsung, SK Hynix, SMIC, and Intel, have exercised caution in their spending due to these uncertainties. China, which accounted for 36% of ASML’s sales in 2024, is expected to see its share decline to around 20% in 2025 as more entities face restrictions.

Despite these challenges, ASML reaffirmed its sales forecast of €30-35 billion for 2025, up from €28.3 billion in 2024, driven by strong demand for extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography systems, essential for advanced chip manufacturing.

In a move to strengthen its global strategy, ASML announced the appointment of former Dutch Social Affairs Minister Karien van Gennip to its supervisory board. The company has also brought on political figures such as former French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire and ex-Deputy Economy Minister Frank Heemskerk to enhance its international positioning.

Dutch Prime Minister Vows Support for Tech Startups Amid Slowing Growth

/in /tarafından

Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof announced plans to strengthen the Netherlands’ technical startup sector, aiming to attract more venture capital following industry concerns about slowing growth.

Speaking at TechLeap’s annual event in The Hague on Wednesday, Schoof highlighted his government’s intention to cut regulatory red tape and increase investments in artificial intelligence. However, he did not provide specific details on the proposed measures.

“The alarming thought, of course, is that as Europe, we are let down, and we cannot keep up with the United States and China. We have to do something about it,” Schoof emphasized. “We have to make sure that … we create an environment in which venture capital is going to invest.”

The Dutch economy, particularly reliant on chip equipment manufacturing and home to ASML—the world’s largest chip equipment maker—has benefited significantly from the technical startup ecosystem concentrated in Eindhoven. The city has helped bolster the economy amid economic challenges in neighboring Germany.

TechLeap’s latest research indicated that venture capital investments in Dutch startups rose by 47% to 3.1 billion euros in 2024, positioning the Netherlands as the fourth-largest market in Europe behind Britain, Germany, and France. However, the U.S. remained far ahead, with $190 billion in investments according to DealRoom data.

Despite the rise in overall venture capital, the number of Dutch startups receiving significant funding declined, with only 104 companies securing investments of over 100,000 euros in 2024, down from 172 in 2023. The majority of this funding came from foreign investors.

Two Dutch companies achieved unicorn status in 2024, attaining private market valuations exceeding 1 billion euros. These firms were Mews, a hotel software developer, and DataSnipper, which uses AI to automate auditing functions.

China’s Chipmaking Equipment Purchases Expected to Decline in 2025

/in /tarafından

China’s spending on chipmaking equipment is projected to decline this year after three consecutive years of growth, driven by overcapacity and U.S. sanctions, according to a report released by Canadian semiconductor research firm TechInsights on Wednesday.

China has led global purchases of wafer fabrication equipment for the past two years, buying $41 billion worth of tools in 2024 and accounting for 40% of global sales. However, spending is expected to fall to $38 billion in 2025, a 6% year-over-year decline, with China’s share of global purchases dropping to 20%, marking the first decrease since 2021, according to Boris Metodiev, a senior semiconductor manufacturing analyst at TechInsights.

“We can see some slowdown in Chinese spending due to export controls and overcapacity,” Metodiev stated during an online seminar.

China had been a key growth driver in the global wafer fabrication equipment sector in 2023 and 2024, even as demand for consumer electronics declined globally. Much of the country’s recent equipment purchases were spurred by stockpiling in response to U.S. sanctions aimed at limiting China’s access to advanced chip technology, particularly those with potential military applications.

Despite these sanctions, Chinese companies such as Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation (SMIC) and Huawei have made advancements. Last year, they produced an advanced chip using more labor-intensive and costly methods. Chinese firms have also expanded significantly in the mature-node chip segment, boosting production capacity and gaining market share from Taiwanese competitors.

However, SMIC warned on Wednesday of potential oversupply risks in the mature-node chip market.

Leading Chinese equipment manufacturers like Naura Technology Group and AMEC have also expanded globally, with Naura now ranking as the world’s seventh-largest equipment maker by sales. Despite these efforts to bolster self-sufficiency, China still faces significant challenges in producing lithography systems and testing and assembly tools.

Dutch company ASML, the largest manufacturer of lithography machines, continues to dominate this sector. In 2023, Chinese companies provided only 17% of the testing tools and 10% of the assembly equipment used within the country, Metodiev added.