ASML announced that it would rely on Chinese enterprises, and foreign media paid attention to the direction of cooperation.
If you were to select the world's largest companies, ASML would be on the list. Why?I'll list a few reasons and see if you agree.
First of all, ASML is the world's leading manufacturer of lithography machines, providing stable products** for chip foundries around the world, ensuring the normal operation of chips around the world**.
Secondly, in terms of innovation, ASML has also led the expansion of the lithography market. As early as 20 years ago, ASML introduced EUV technology and developed EUV lithography machines. Some time ago, ASML was the only company in the world that could produce EUV lithography machines.
Third, ASML is a technology company that has invested more than 20 billion euros in the development of advanced lithography technology. As a private company and a manufacturer with an annual profit of less than 6 billion euros, ASML deserves to be commended for investing 20 billion euros in lithography technology.
Based on the above three points, I don't think many people would object to calling ASML the largest company in the world.
While ASML is a great company, what ASML has done in recent years is not great, one might even say"Aiding and abetting"。Why?
First of all, regardless of morality, follow in the footsteps of the United States and control lithography technology.
China is the world's largest chip market, and the annual demand for lithography machines ranks first in the world. In the early years, ASML also respected the best rules and signed export orders for lithography machines with China's semiconductor companies. After years of cooperation, China's semiconductor companies have purchased more than 1,000 lithography machines from ASML.
In 2018, SMIC, a leading chip foundry company in China, signed an agreement with ASML to export an EUV lithography machine, but due to the old obstruction of the United States, this EUV lithography machine has not been shipped so far.
Because of this incident, ASML began to control the lithography machine, and ASML's Chinese semiconductor companies have lost hope of obtaining EUV lithography machines, and they can only buy DUV lithography machines with lower technical content.
Secondly, the control has been upgraded, and ASML has begun to restrict the export of mid-to-high-end DUV lithography machines.
In March 2023, the United States pulled the Netherlands and Japan into a tie-up"Tripartite Alliance", export high-end lithography machine. Since then, Japan has issued 23 semiconductor export rules to restrict the export of 45nn lithography machines.
At the end of June, the Dutch authorities also issued regulations on export control of semiconductor equipment. Under the regulation, most lithography machines manufactured by ASML are required to obtain an export license.
According to ASML's past performance, Chinese semiconductor companies are reluctant to purchase mid-to-high-end lithography machines from ASML, which shows that the control of lithography machines has been strengthened again.
Thirdly, ASML's sales have increased significantly, and the mainland market has contributed a lot!
Although ASML has imposed export controls on mid-to-high-end lithography machines, ASML's revenue has not decreased, but has increased significantly.
Some time ago, ASML released its financial results for the second quarter of 2023. In the second quarter, ASML sold a total of 113 lithography machines, of which 79 were sold in Taiwan and 27 in mainland China. Lithography machines purchased in mainland China account for 24% of ASML's total lithography machine sales. As a result, the mainland market has become the second largest market for ASML in the world.
As of 2023, the demand for lithography machines from global wafer manufacturers has dropped significantly, and the demand for ASML from Samsung and TSMC has also been lower than expected. In this case, ASML imposed export controls on lithography machines, which negatively impacted ASML's revenue.
Fortunately, the demand for ASML lithography machines in the mainland market is strong, and the deadline for ASML's export control is September 1, so during this period, domestic chip foundries can only turn to ASML to buy lithography machines. Based on this, some foreign ** said: without the participation of Chinese enterprises, ASML would not have such brilliant performance in the second quarter.
China is the world's largest chip market and the fastest-growing lithography machine market. Regardless of the development prospects or market size, ASML has no reason to control China's lithography machine exports. I hope that ASML will not listen to the agreement of the former United States, and that my country will do the opposite and give my country the best lithography machine normally.