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Reading guide: Can't stop it?ASML officially announced! US media: Biden is going to "break the defense"!
In the context of globalization, the high-tech industry has always been the focus of competition among countries. Among them, the lithography machine, as a key equipment for the production of semiconductor chips, has attracted the attention of the world. For a long time, ASML in the Netherlands has occupied an absolute dominant position in the global market with its leading EUV lithography machine technology. However, with the continuous changes in the international trade environment, the export problem of lithography machines has gradually surfaced, triggering a global lithography machine farce. Now, the Dutch side has finally officially announced a new policy, and the US media have said: Biden is going to "break the defense"!
Looking back, the issue of export restrictions on lithography machines has always been an important factor affecting the development of the global semiconductor industry. In order to suppress our development in the semiconductor field, Biden of the United States directly united the Netherlands, Japan and the United States and signed a tripartite agreement, resulting in ASML's advanced EUV lithography machine being unable to be directly exported to us. This has undoubtedly brought great pressure to the development of our semiconductor industry, and at the same time, ASML's revenue has been severely impacted. Faced with this dilemma, the Dutch side did not sit idly by, but actively sought a solution.
Not long ago, Dutch Prime Minister Rutte personally visited China and had in-depth communication and exchanges with us on the issue of export restrictions on lithography machines. During the talks, Rutte made it clear that "the Netherlands will ensure that the regulation of lithography machines is not targeted at a particular country and will work to reduce the impact of the restrictions." This statement undoubtedly brought a new turning point for the export of lithography machines. It can be said that the export of lithography equipment cannot be stopped! And Biden is also going to "break the defense"!
In fact, this decision of the Dutch side was not accidental. As one of the world's largest semiconductor consumer markets, China has a huge demand for lithography machines. As the world's leading manufacturer of lithography machines, ASML is naturally unwilling to give up this huge market. In this context, the Dutch side chose to conduct in-depth communication and cooperation with us, undoubtedly out of economic interests.
At the same time, with the rapid development of the domestic semiconductor industry, China's demand for lithography machines is also increasing. According to statistics, the amount of lithography machines we imported in 2023 will be about 2.7 billion US dollars, a year-on-year increase of more than 8 times. This figure fully illustrates the huge demand for lithography machines in the domestic market. Therefore, it is undoubtedly a huge business opportunity for ASML to continue to export lithography machines.
However, despite the new policy announced by the Dutch side, there are still some uncertainties about the export of lithography machines. First, U.S. export controls on semiconductor equipment remain strict, which could hinder ASML's export plans. Second, although the Netherlands has indicated that it will not impose restrictions on a particular country, the specific implementation details need to be further observed. In addition, the United States has also imposed certain restrictions on the import of certain high-end lithography machines, which may also have a certain impact on ASML's export plans.
Judging from the current trend, the problem of export restrictions on lithography machines is gradually easing. With the official announcement of the new policy by the Dutch side, ASML has also officially announced that the number of lithography machines exported to China is also increasing. According to statistics, in the first two months of 2024 alone, ASML exported 32 lithography machines to China, worth up to 7 billion. This figure not only proves the huge potential of the domestic market, but also shows the importance that ASML attaches to the domestic market.
At the same time, we should also see that we are also making continuous progress in lithography machine technology. Although there is still a certain gap compared with ASML and other foreign advanced enterprises, some domestic enterprises have begun to carry out independent research and development and production in the field of lithography machines. This undoubtedly provides strong support for the long-term development of China's semiconductor industry.
Looking ahead, with the continuous development of the global semiconductor industry, lithography machine technology will continue to be the focus of competition. For us, strengthening independent R&D and production capacity, and improving the level of lithography machine technology will be the key to realizing the independence and controllability of the semiconductor industry. At the same time, strengthening cooperation and exchanges with foreign advanced enterprises is also an important way to promote the development of China's semiconductor industry.
To sum up, the end of the lithography machine farce is not accidental, but the inevitable result of the development trend of the global semiconductor industry. The official announcement of the Netherlands and the increasing number of lithography machines exported by ASML to China indicate that the global semiconductor industry is moving towards a more open and cooperative direction. For China, seizing this opportunity and strengthening independent R&D and production capacity will be the key to achieving the long-term development of the semiconductor industry.
In this era full of opportunities and challenges, we should embrace the transformation and development of the global semiconductor industry with an open mind. Only through cooperation and exchanges can we achieve win-win and development. I don't know what you think about this?