ASML’s chip equipment sales to China soar 109% despite US export curb push

The Dutch firm expects China to account for 20 per cent of its total sales this year, even as the US pushes for tighter export restrictions

Dutch semiconductor equipment giant ASML expects China to account for about 20 per cent of its total sales this year, after seeing shipments to the market more than double during the previous quarter despite mounting US pressure for tighter export restrictions on less advanced chipmaking machinery.

The company’s sales to China surged 109 per cent in the third quarter compared with the previous three months, according to financial results released on Wednesday. That took China’s share of ASML’s machine sales to 23 per cent, up from 14 per cent in the second quarter.

The revenue jump comes as Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten faces pressure from Washington to tighten restrictions on sales of chipmaking machines to China.