ASML as the world's leading semiconductor giant, master the world's only EUV lithography machine that can create high-end chips, even the United States can not independently develop the EUV lithography machine, the Netherlands has been developed, and it is precisely because of this, ASML has a pivotal position in the global semiconductor market, many chip manufacturers around the world also hope to be able to purchase ASML lithography machine, such as Whether it is TSMC or Samsung, they all hope that ASML can sell more lithography machines to them, However, last year, ASML's EUV lithography machine only sold 42 units, the market can be described as in short supply, and this year ASML shipped 62 lithography machines in the first quarter, of which 21 were sold to China, so the interesting thing is coming, that is, ASML can not be freely shipped, why increase shipments to the Chinese market? Even the foreign media claimed that they could not stop it.
In fact, the Chinese market for ASML, is undoubtedly one of the world's largest markets, because China is not only a chip demand country, but more importantly, China is also a chip production power, so the demand for lithography machine is also huge, it is obvious that ASML can not be freely shipped, so it can not sell us EUV lithography machine, which is also unwilling to see for ASML, after all, if a company wants to develop, then it is necessary to firmly grasp the largest market, only in this way can it become a real industry leader So why did ASML sell us 21 lithography machines? In fact, ASML has already said that ASML will mass-produce 70 lithography machines in 2025, according to the shipment of EUV lithography machines in 2021, then ASML needs to increase the production capacity of 28 EUV lithography machines at least in three years, otherwise it is bound to be unable to meet the needs of the market.
Indeed, ASML to mass-produce EUV lithography machine, then it must invest a huge cost, obviously affected by the can not be freely shipped, ASML can not accurately judge the market demand for EUV lithography machine, accurately speaking, ITML should not know its own production of EUV lithography machine, in the end can not be sold, although the global chip manufacturers are hoping to buy EUV lithography machine, but by the United States factors, if as in the past can not sell EUV lithography machine to China, So will the EUV lithography machine produced become an inventory? Therefore, although the EUV lithography machine as the most cutting-edge technology, but can not operate according to common sense, then this time ASML will rely on other lithography machines to ensure the normal operation of ASML, such as DUV and ARF low-end lithography machine and so on.
In fact, whether it is a DUV lithography machine or an ARF lithography machine, it will not be limited, because the United States is mainly limited to the high-end manufacturing field of the mainland, so the lithography machine used to produce low-end chips, the United States is not blocked, according to ASML's expected shipments, the shipment of DUV lithography machines in 2022 is about 240 units, and 21 units were shipped to us in the first quarter, accounting for 34% of the global market, in fact, for ASML, it is not that it does not want to sell lithography machines to us , on the contrary, hope to consume more EUV lithography machine production capacity, for example, as early as the United States has not limited its shipments, ASML has planned to sell a large number of EUV lithography machines to the mainland, but the United States' horizontal obstruction has also made ASML's dream of entering the Chinese market completely shattered, so now ASML can only sell DUV lithography machines to us, such as SMIC and Geke Micro and other domestic chip manufacturers, have purchased DUV and ARF and other models of lithography machines from AML.
So what is the intention behind ASML's eagerness to sell the lithography machine to us? Is it really just because of the increase in revenue?
In fact, this is not the case, because according to the demand in the market now, ASML has a backlog of more than 500 DUV lithography machine orders, which means that ASML's lithography machine is not worried about selling, but ASML is shipped to China first, its real purpose is to avoid our breakthrough in the field of lithography machine, because as long as we have enough equipment, then we will not have the situation of being stuck neck, we can smoothly produce and operate, Then the pace of domestic independent research and development of lithography machine will also be further slowed down, which is a good thing for ASML, otherwise once the mainland makes a breakthrough in the field of lithography machine, then for ASML, not only will lose a huge market, but also a group of powerful competitors, at that time ASML can be said to regret it is too late, I believe this is why foreign media to say that it can not be stopped, in fact, ASML has ulterior motives. What do you think about that? Feel free to leave a message in the comments section.