ASML reports stronger Chinese demand in 2025, dismisses EUV speculation

Chinese demand for ASML's chip-making tools has been stronger than expected in 2025, according to Reuters, which reports this significant development for the world's biggest supplier of computer chip-making equipment.

ASML's Chief Financial Officer Roger Dassen revealed that China sales are now expected to be "a bit over 25%" of net system sales, higher than the previously anticipated 20%. The Dutch semiconductor giant noted that first-quarter net system sales to China remained stable at 27% while falling elsewhere except Taiwan, as Reuters indicates that Chinese chipmakers are maintaining high orders for ASML's older DUV machines due to concerns about potential future export controls.

Despite stronger Chinese demand, ASML missed order expectations amid growing uncertainty in the chip industry. Bloomberg's Stock Movers report highlights that ASML shares fell after first-quarter orders came in at almost a billion euros less than expected. The company is also grappling with uncertainty about how to quantify the impact of recent tariff announcements that threaten to disrupt the semiconductor industry.

According to Bloomberg's coverage, this disappointing performance comes alongside other market movers like Interactive Brokers Group, whose shares dropped after reporting first-quarter adjusted earnings per share and net interest income below expectations, and JB Hunt, whose shares declined as analysts expressed concerns about tariff impacts on the trucking industry despite better-than-expected quarterly profits.

ASML reported net bookings of 3.94 billion euros ($4.47 billion) for the first quarter of 2025, falling short of the 4.89 billion euros analysts had forecast, as CNBC notes in its detailed financial reporting of the critical chip firm's performance. This news sent ASML shares down 5% on Wednesday morning. CEO Christophe Fouquet maintained that while demand outlook "remains strong" with artificial intelligence continuing as a key driver, uncertainty among some customers could push the company toward the lower end of its full-year revenue guidance of 30-35 billion euros.

CNBC's coverage emphasized that tariffs are "creating a new uncertainty" both macroeconomically and for potential market demands, with analyst Ben Barringer telling CNBC's "Squawk Box Europe" that impacts from U.S. tariffs on ASML could be "widespread," though it's too early to determine their full effect. The semiconductor industry has been particularly vulnerable recently, with chip stocks showing fragility amid concerns about how U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff plans will affect the global chip supply chain, as CNBC reports.