All articles tagged with #chipmaking equipment
ASML warned that 2026 may see flat revenue, breaking a decade of growth, due to increasing macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainties, despite strong Q2 bookings driven by AI-related demand, causing its stock to drop about 7%.
The US has excluded some of China's largest semiconductor companies, including ChangXin Memory Technologies, from its latest chip export restrictions due to opposition from Japan. The US Commerce Department imposed a ban on 24 types of chipmaking equipment and added 140 Chinese companies to the Entity List, but Japan's influence, as a major supplier to these firms, led to the omission of certain companies. This reflects the pressure on the US from allies like Japan and the Netherlands, who are key players in the chipmaking industry.
Despite export restrictions on high-end chipmaking equipment to China, ASML Holding NV's sales to China remained strong in the first quarter, with the country still representing 49% of the company's system sales. In contrast, sales from Taiwan more than halved, while the US accounted for 6%, down five percentage points from the prior quarter.
China's commerce minister urged the Netherlands to avoid hi-tech decoupling and continue exporting chipmaking equipment, emphasizing the importance of maintaining stable global semiconductor and supply chains. The Dutch company ASML, a leader in advanced chipmaking equipment, has faced restrictions on selling to China due to US pressure. China is actively developing its own lithography machines but faces challenges in catching up to ASML's technology. Both countries expressed commitment to opposing supply chain disruptions during a meeting between their leaders.
Chinese companies are purchasing US chipmaking equipment to produce advanced semiconductors, despite new export restrictions imposed by the US to hinder China's semiconductor industry. The restrictions aim to prevent Chinese chipmakers from acquiring US chipmaking tools for manufacturing advanced chips at or below the 14 nanometer node. However, importers can still buy the equipment by claiming it is for use on older production lines, making it difficult to verify its actual purpose. The report also reveals that China stockpiled equipment during the lag time between the US restrictions and similar moves by Japan and the Netherlands. The report suggests an annual evaluation of export controls on chipmaking equipment to China to address the gaps in the US rules.
Japan plans to impose export controls on 23 types of semiconductor manufacturing equipment, including six categories of equipment used in chip manufacturing, to align its technology trade controls with the US push to curb China's ability to make advanced chips. The export restrictions, which will come into force in July, are likely to affect equipment manufactured by a dozen Japanese companies. Japan's industry minister said the impact on domestic companies would be limited, and the country did not have one specific country in mind with these measures.
Japan has added 23 items, including advanced semiconductor manufacturing equipment, to the list of items subject to export controls, making it more difficult for companies to export to China. The move follows the US's strict limitations on exports to China in areas such as manufacturing equipment for advanced semiconductors used in supercomputers and artificial intelligence.
Japan plans to impose export controls on 23 types of semiconductor manufacturing equipment, including six categories of equipment used in chip manufacturing, to align its technology trade controls with the US push to curb China's ability to make advanced chips. The export restrictions, which will come into force in July, are likely to affect equipment manufactured by a dozen Japanese companies, such as Nikon Corp, Tokyo Electron Ltd, Screen Holdings Co Ltd, and Advantest Corp.