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ASML

The latest news and top stories on ASML. A leading entity in the semiconductor equipment sector, Netherlands-based ASML specialises in developing and manufacturing photolithography machines, including advanced Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) and Deep Ultraviolet (DUV) systems. It primarily serves global semiconductor manufacturers like Intel, Samsung and TSMC. ASML holds a near-monopoly in the lithography market, being the sole global supplier of EUV machines and commanding approximately 90 per cent of the overall lithography market. Its overall business focus is on continuous innovation and strategic partnerships to enable the production of smaller, more powerful microchips.

The Netherlands’ trade minister, Sjoerd Sjoerdsma, is expected to visit Beijing and Shanghai soon. Photo: EPA

China trade

Exclusive | China’s date with Dutch trade minister on cards for early July: source

The Netherlands’ trade chief and his delegation will come at a pivotal diplomatic moment, as The Hague faces pressure from US tech-export laws.

36 minutes agovideocam

Semiconductors

Huawei seeks to match best chips without best chipmaking gear

4 hours ago

Semiconductors

Huawei’s workaround for US chip curbs faces hurdles on road to self-reliance

26 May 2026 - 10:52PM

US-China relations

The View | In Beijing, the US and China tiptoed around tech and critical minerals

Summit addressed the top and bottom layers – geopolitical framing and trade mechanics – but left the strategic middle layer largely implicit.

26 May 2026 - 4:30PMvideocam

US President Donald Trump gestures towards Chinese President Xi Jinping while leaving after a visit to the Zhongnanhai Garden in Beijing, China, on May 15. Photo: Reuters

US-China trade war

The US-China trade war is entering a worrying new phase

The US and China are racing to roll out competing sanctions, rules and regulations, leaving firms trapped in a legal Catch-22.

15 May 2026 - 11:04AMvideocam

US-EU relations

Netherlands opposes US proposal to further bar chip giant ASML from China market

While the chipmaking-gear giant is already banned from selling advanced kit to China, new rule would make low-end products off-limits too.

13 May 2026 - 8:00PMvideocam

China-EU relations

Opinion | Facing US and Chinese pressure, the EU must forge its own strategy

To remain competitive, Brussels must leverage its market power to engage Beijing – while aligning with Washington on its own terms.

28 Apr 2026 - 8:30PMvideocam

SCMP Exclusives

Exclusive | Un-sanctioned: China to welcome Dutch trade minister amid Nexperia, ASML discord

Source says Beijing has quietly dropped an old sanctioning of Sjoerd Sjoerdsma, who recently spoke of wanting to lead a Dutch trade mission to China.

28 Apr 2026 - 3:02PMvideocam

US-China tech war

Tech war: US Congress rolls out ‘largest’ export control upgrade against China

US lawmakers push export controls to limit China’s tech access in a bid to protect the US semiconductor industry.

24 Apr 2026 - 8:53AM

Semiconductors

ASML boosts 2026 sales forecast despite shrinking China sales

The Dutch chipmaker expects annual net sales of €36 billion (US$42.5 billion) to €40 billion after releasing its first-quarter results.

16 Apr 2026 - 11:29AM

Semiconductors

Proposed US chip curbs on China risk deeper supply chain disruption

New US bill pressures Japan and the Netherlands to align on China chip curbs, with potential fallout for global supply chains.

8 Apr 2026 - 8:02PM

A proposed US bill aims to close ‘critical gaps’ in existing restrictions by requiring allied countries to match US curbs on semiconductor equipment exports to China within 150 days. Photo: AFP

China-EU relations

Europe urged to ‘learn to fight for itself’ in case US-China truce collapses

European Council on Foreign Relations calls for Brussels to be prepared and ‘not wait until the next crisis hits’.

31 Mar 2026 - 3:00PMvideocam

China-EU relations

China and the Netherlands seek ‘pragmatic’ reset as Nexperia row rolls on

Wang Yi hails ‘positive signals’ from new Dutch minister as US pressure and EU de-risking leave The Hague juggling security and trade interests.

21 Mar 2026 - 5:50PMvideocam

Semiconductors

Top chip leaders urge national drive to ‘build China’s ASML’ amid US curbs

Financial and human resources must be pooled and authorities should start drawing up plans immediately, top executives say in an article.

5 Mar 2026 - 5:32PM

China’s chip industry is fragmented and has too many small players, according to the nation’s top chip executives. Photo: Shutterstock

US-China trade war

Open Questions | Abraham Newman on ‘weaponised interdependence’ in ‘neo‑royalist’ Trump era

American political scientist on how ‘interdependence’ can be exploited as part of the rivalry between major powers.

23 Feb 2026 - 10:05AMvideocam

Semiconductors

Profits rise for China’s semiconductor firms on AI boom, tech self-reliance push

Domestic A-share companies in the sector are forecast to achieve substantial growth in their 2025 results, according to Donghai Securities.

31 Jan 2026 - 2:00PM

Semiconductors

ASML reports heated global demand in 2025, but cools China outlook

US limits on ASML’s China trade continue to define the company’s growth pattern, with overall sales up despite China revenues falling.

29 Jan 2026 - 3:50PM

Semiconductors

China’s top lithography bet shifts gears: SMEE sells subsidiary in key pivot

State-backed SMEE, often dubbed China’s best ASML challenger, has sold Shanghai Weiyao to AMIES in a move that prioritises tool development.

7 Jan 2026 - 8:00PM

China’s state-backed lithography champion Shanghai Micro Electronics Equipment (SMEE) has reshuffled its business. Photo: Reuters

India

‘Pax Silica’: America’s new AI inner circle and Asia’s chosen few

Japan, South Korea and Singapore made the cut, leaving key partners like India and Vietnam – and even New Zealand – on the sidelines.

22 Dec 2025 - 8:00AM

Semiconductors

China eyes mastery of EUV lithography, bolstering AI chip ambitions: analysts

‘As the semiconductor dream has become a national security issue, I would not underestimate China’s ambition,’ Natixis analyst Gary Ng says.

19 Dec 2025 - 8:00PM

China trade

As trade deficit mounts, is EU selling what China wants to buy?

Traditional European exports like cars are losing their appeal, while restrictions crimp sales of sought-after lithography machines.

18 Dec 2025 - 4:00PM

A China-Europe freight train leave the transshipment yard of Tongjiang North Railway Station in northeastern China’s Heilongjiang province on December 9. Photo: Xinhua

China-EU relations

Macron’s trade ultimatum to China goes public: fix surplus or face tariffs

French president says EU could copy American protectionism, warning that a lopsided flow of goods results in China ‘effectively killing their own customers’.

8 Dec 2025 - 6:01PM

President Xi Jinping and French President Emmanuel Macron are seen here at a Unesco World Heritage site in Dujiangyan, Sichuan province, on Friday. Photo: AFP

Huawei

How Huawei could use a 2022 patent to make 2-nm-class chips without key tool

The proposed solution offers a technical pathway to support a 2-nm process using older DUV technology.

4 Dec 2025 - 12:00PM

Nexperia

Opinion | Netherlands’ Nexperia blunder shows it has forgotten its own history

The Netherlands’ pragmatic approach – separating commercial interests from geopolitical alignment – once made it a friend to all.

25 Nov 2025 - 4:30PMvideocam

Science

Lithography breakthrough: China creates 14nm chip with compact EUV light source

Hefei-based company improves manufacture of the semiconductors used to power industrial automation and electric cars.

22 Nov 2025 - 3:40PMvideocam

Chinese researchers have developed an EUV light source for chip production based on high-harmonic generation. Photo: Shutterstock

China-EU relations

Exclusive | ‘Progress cannot be stopped’: China’s chief Paris envoy talks trade, EV tariffs

Deng Li says China and Europe can build emerging sectors like EVs together, Beijing not interested in ‘completely unnecessary’ trade surplus.

29 Oct 2025 - 2:27PMvideocam

Deng Li, China’s ambassador to France and Monaco, says Beijing still sees the EU as a partner and welcomes economic cooperation. Photo: Handout

Hong Kong tourism

Letters | Halal seafood districts and other ideas for boosting Hong Kong tourism

Readers discuss ideas for creating a distinct brand of halal tourism, how China can play serious hardball on rare earths, and the US president’s deal-making.

28 Oct 2025 - 11:37AM

US-China relations

Opinion | US-China tit-for-tat escalation is now a feature, not a bug

Expect Beijing and Washington to repeat a familiar pattern every time the other side achieves a breakthrough or an edge in market dominance.

19 Oct 2025 - 5:53PMvideocam

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ASML

.css-1f6sr3w{color:#727272;}Exclusive | China’s date with Dutch trade minister on cards for early July: source

The Netherlands’ trade chief and his delegation will come at a pivotal diplomatic moment, as The Hague faces pressure from US tech-export laws.

Huawei seeks to match best chips without best chipmaking gear

Huawei’s workaround for US chip curbs faces hurdles on road to self-reliance

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}The View | In Beijing, the US and China tiptoed around tech and critical minerals

Summit addressed the top and bottom layers – geopolitical framing and trade mechanics – but left the strategic middle layer largely implicit.

The US-China trade war is entering a worrying new phase

The US and China are racing to roll out competing sanctions, rules and regulations, leaving firms trapped in a legal Catch-22.

Netherlands opposes US proposal to further bar chip giant ASML from China market

While the chipmaking-gear giant is already banned from selling advanced kit to China, new rule would make low-end products off-limits too.

Opinion | Facing US and Chinese pressure, the EU must forge its own strategy

To remain competitive, Brussels must leverage its market power to engage Beijing – while aligning with Washington on its own terms.

Exclusive | Un-sanctioned: China to welcome Dutch trade minister amid Nexperia, ASML discord

Source says Beijing has quietly dropped an old sanctioning of Sjoerd Sjoerdsma, who recently spoke of wanting to lead a Dutch trade mission to China.

Tech war: US Congress rolls out ‘largest’ export control upgrade against China

US lawmakers push export controls to limit China’s tech access in a bid to protect the US semiconductor industry.

ASML boosts 2026 sales forecast despite shrinking China sales

The Dutch chipmaker expects annual net sales of €36 billion (US$42.5 billion) to €40 billion after releasing its first-quarter results.

Proposed US chip curbs on China risk deeper supply chain disruption

New US bill pressures Japan and the Netherlands to align on China chip curbs, with potential fallout for global supply chains.

Europe urged to ‘learn to fight for itself’ in case US-China truce collapses

European Council on Foreign Relations calls for Brussels to be prepared and ‘not wait until the next crisis hits’.

China and the Netherlands seek ‘pragmatic’ reset as Nexperia row rolls on

Wang Yi hails ‘positive signals’ from new Dutch minister as US pressure and EU de-risking leave The Hague juggling security and trade interests.

Top chip leaders urge national drive to ‘build China’s ASML’ amid US curbs

Financial and human resources must be pooled and authorities should start drawing up plans immediately, top executives say in an article.

Open Questions | Abraham Newman on ‘weaponised interdependence’ in ‘neo‑royalist’ Trump era

American political scientist on how ‘interdependence’ can be exploited as part of the rivalry between major powers.

Profits rise for China’s semiconductor firms on AI boom, tech self-reliance push

Domestic A-share companies in the sector are forecast to achieve substantial growth in their 2025 results, according to Donghai Securities.

ASML reports heated global demand in 2025, but cools China outlook

US limits on ASML’s China trade continue to define the company’s growth pattern, with overall sales up despite China revenues falling.

China’s top lithography bet shifts gears: SMEE sells subsidiary in key pivot

State-backed SMEE, often dubbed China’s best ASML challenger, has sold Shanghai Weiyao to AMIES in a move that prioritises tool development.

‘Pax Silica’: America’s new AI inner circle and Asia’s chosen few

Japan, South Korea and Singapore made the cut, leaving key partners like India and Vietnam – and even New Zealand – on the sidelines.

China eyes mastery of EUV lithography, bolstering AI chip ambitions: analysts

‘As the semiconductor dream has become a national security issue, I would not underestimate China’s ambition,’ Natixis analyst Gary Ng says.

As trade deficit mounts, is EU selling what China wants to buy?

Traditional European exports like cars are losing their appeal, while restrictions crimp sales of sought-after lithography machines.

Macron’s trade ultimatum to China goes public: fix surplus or face tariffs

French president says EU could copy American protectionism, warning that a lopsided flow of goods results in China ‘effectively killing their own customers’.

How Huawei could use a 2022 patent to make 2-nm-class chips without key tool

The proposed solution offers a technical pathway to support a 2-nm process using older DUV technology.

Opinion | Netherlands’ Nexperia blunder shows it has forgotten its own history

The Netherlands’ pragmatic approach – separating commercial interests from geopolitical alignment – once made it a friend to all.

Lithography breakthrough: China creates 14nm chip with compact EUV light source

Hefei-based company improves manufacture of the semiconductors used to power industrial automation and electric cars.

Exclusive | ‘Progress cannot be stopped’: China’s chief Paris envoy talks trade, EV tariffs

Deng Li says China and Europe can build emerging sectors like EVs together, Beijing not interested in ‘completely unnecessary’ trade surplus.

Letters | Halal seafood districts and other ideas for boosting Hong Kong tourism

Readers discuss ideas for creating a distinct brand of halal tourism, how China can play serious hardball on rare earths, and the US president’s deal-making.

Opinion | US-China tit-for-tat escalation is now a feature, not a bug

Expect Beijing and Washington to repeat a familiar pattern every time the other side achieves a breakthrough or an edge in market dominance.

Exclusive | China’s date with Dutch trade minister on cards for early July: source

The View | In Beijing, the US and China tiptoed around tech and critical minerals