Tech Giant ASML Sells Zero Chipmaking Machines to Europe
Veldhoven, Thursday, 24 September 2026.
ASML warns it is currently selling zero chipmaking machines in Europe. A complete lack of factory investment risks leaving the region permanently behind the US, China, and India.
The Critical Innovation of Advanced Photolithography
ASML Holding NV, based in the Netherlands, is the pioneering force behind the world’s most advanced photolithography technology [3][4][5]. This hardware innovation is the cornerstone of the modern semiconductor industry [3]. ASML’s highly specialized machines use light to print incredibly intricate transistor patterns onto silicon wafers [1][3]. These patterns form the complex integrated circuits that power everything from smartphones to advanced artificial intelligence infrastructure [1][3]. Currently, ASML is the sole manufacturer of the high-end extreme ultraviolet (EUV) and deep ultraviolet (DUV) lithography equipment required to manufacture the latest generation of microchips [1][2][3]. Without these machines, global tech leaders like Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) and Samsung Electronics would be unable to produce the cutting-edge silicon that drives the global AI boom [1][3].
A Stark Reality of European Investment Stagnation
Despite the critical nature of this technology, ASML’s executive vice president responsible for global public affairs, Frank Heemskerk, delivered a sobering warning at an event in Amsterdam on Monday, September 21, 2026 [3]. Heemskerk announced that ASML is currently selling zero chipmaking machines within Europe [1][2][3][4]. The primary driver behind this complete commercial standstill is a total lack of domestic investment and the absence of active chip factory construction across the continent [1][2][3][4]. While European policymakers have expressed a desire to secure technological sovereignty, the reality on the ground shows zero active demand for the physical infrastructure required to manufacture advanced processors [1][3].
Global Competitors Roll Out the Red Carpet
This lack of European activity stands in stark contrast to aggressive expansion campaigns in other parts of the world. The United States, China, and India are heavily subsidizing and building domestic semiconductor manufacturing facilities to insulate themselves from supply chain shocks [1][3][4]. According to Heemskerk, these nations are actively courting ASML to expand its manufacturing and research footprint outside of its home base in the Netherlands [3][4][5]. China and India are rolling out “the reddest of red carpets,” offering substantial incentives for ASML to construct factories locally [3]. Furthermore, the United States, which already hosts a quarter of ASML’s research and development operations, is pressuring the company to double that share to 50% [3]. ASML has already begun capitalizing on these shifting global dynamics, having signed a strategic partnership with Tata Electronics Private Ltd in May 2026 to accelerate India’s domestic chip-manufacturing capabilities [3].
The Failure of the European Chips Act
The lack of European sales highlights the shortcomings of the European Union’s regulatory initiatives. In response to the severe semiconductor shortages experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic, Brussels implemented the EU Chips Act in 2023 [1][3]. The ambitious legislation was designed to double Europe’s share of global chip production [1][3]. However, the policy has failed to catalyze the necessary private and public investments to build new fabrication facilities [1][3]. This policy failure was foreshadowed last year when the European Court of Auditors concluded that the EU is highly unlikely to achieve its market share doubling goal by 2030 [1][3].
Sobering Financial Realities for Europe
The financial data underscores Europe’s dwindling significance in the global chip ecosystem. In 2025, Europe accounted for a mere 1.6% of ASML’s total net sales of €32.7 billion [2]. This represents an investment of only €0.523 billion on the continent [2]. The situation has deteriorated further in 2026, with European buyers contributing absolutely nothing to ASML’s net system sales during the second quarter [3]. This decline is even more pronounced when compared to the 1% sales slice represented by the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region in 2025 [3]. Currently, South Korea, Taiwan, and China remain the dominant markets for ASML’s advanced lithography tools [3]. ASML has made it clear that because it must scale up its production to meet global demands, it cannot do so solely within the Netherlands if European nations refuse to step up and invest in local infrastructure [3][4][5].