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SK Hynix Places $8B Order for ASML Chip Tools

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SK Hynix has announced a major purchase of chipmaking equipment from ASML, committing nearly $8 billion in what is the largest publicly disclosed order for the Dutch supplier’s lithography systems.

The deal covers extreme ultraviolet (EUV) machines, which are critical for producing advanced semiconductors used in artificial intelligence and high-performance computing. The equipment will be delivered by the end of 2027 and is expected to support the company’s next-generation production capacity.

Analysts say the tools will be deployed across SK Hynix’s upcoming Yongin facility as well as its M15X plant in Cheongju, both of which are key to scaling production of high-bandwidth memory and advanced DRAM chips.

The investment reflects strong demand for AI-related semiconductors, where memory chips play a central role. It also signals SK Hynix’s effort to secure manufacturing capacity ahead of competitors in a tightening supply environment.

The order highlights the growing importance of EUV technology in enabling smaller, faster and more efficient chips, as the semiconductor industry continues to evolve around AI-driven workloads.

U.S. Grants TSMC Annual Licence to Import Chipmaking Tools into China

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The U.S. government has granted an annual licence to TSMC allowing it to import U.S.-made chip manufacturing equipment into its facilities in Nanjing, China, the company said on Thursday.

In a statement to Reuters, TSMC said the approval would “ensure uninterrupted fab operations and product deliveries.” The licence allows U.S. export-controlled equipment to be supplied to TSMC’s Nanjing operations without the need for individual vendor approvals.

South Korean chipmakers Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix have also received similar licences, according to industry sources. The move comes after earlier exemptions granted to Asian chipmakers under Washington’s export controls expired at the end of December.

Previously, companies such as TSMC, Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix had benefited from a special status known as “validated end-user,” which allowed them to continue shipping certain U.S. chip-related equipment to China despite broad restrictions aimed at limiting Beijing’s access to advanced semiconductor technologies. That status expired on December 31, forcing companies to apply for individual export licences for 2026.

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TSMC clarified that the licence applies specifically to its Nanjing plant, which manufactures 16-nanometre and other mature-node chips rather than the company’s most advanced semiconductors. The Taiwanese chipmaker also operates a fabrication plant in Shanghai, but has not disclosed whether similar arrangements apply there.

According to TSMC’s 2024 annual report, the Nanjing facility accounted for about 2.4% of the company’s total revenue, highlighting its relatively modest but still strategically important role in TSMC’s global manufacturing network.

The decision underscores Washington’s attempt to balance strict controls on cutting-edge semiconductor technology with limited flexibility for mature-node production that supports global supply chains, even as geopolitical and technological competition with China continues to intensify.

US approves Samsung, SK Hynix chipmaking tool shipments to China for 2026, sources say

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The U.S. government has approved annual licences allowing Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix to ship chipmaking equipment to their factories in China in 2026, according to two people familiar with the matter. The move offers temporary relief to the South Korean firms amid tightening U.S. export controls.

One source said Washington has introduced an annual approval system for exports of semiconductor manufacturing tools to China. The decision follows a U.S. move earlier this year to revoke licence waivers that had allowed certain technology companies to continue shipments with fewer restrictions.

Previously, Samsung, SK Hynix and TSMC benefited from exemptions under Washington’s broad chip export restrictions targeting China. That special status, known as validated end user (VEU), is set to expire on December 31. After that date, shipments of U.S.-origin chipmaking equipment to their Chinese facilities will require individual export licences.

Samsung and SK Hynix declined to comment, while TSMC did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The U.S. Department of Commerce was not available for comment outside business hours.

The policy shift reflects Washington’s broader effort to curb China’s access to advanced American technology. The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has been reassessing export controls it considers overly permissive under the previous Biden administration, according to people familiar with the matter.

China remains a critical manufacturing base for Samsung and SK Hynix, particularly for legacy memory chips. Demand for such chips has surged amid rapid expansion of AI data centres and tighter global supply, underscoring why continued access to chipmaking tools for their Chinese plants remains strategically important for the South Korean companies.