ASML reports zero European sales as continent fails to launch new chip fabs

At a September 21 event in Amsterdam, ASML executive Frank Heemskerk explained that the company recorded no sales of its extreme ultraviolet lithography tools in Europe, citing the absence of new chip factories on the continent. In the second quarter, European sales represented 0% of the firm’s net system revenue, contrasting with a 1% share for the broader EMEA region in 2025. While the EU’s Chips Act aims to double Europe’s share of global chip output by 2030, the European Court of Auditors doubts the target is achievable, noting modest projected growth.

Major projects such as Intel’s planned plants in Germany and Poland have been postponed or cancelled. Meanwhile, ASML is expanding abroad, signing a deal with Tata Electronics for India’s first front-end fab and hiring additional staff in Taiwan, as the United States seeks a larger share of its research activities.