Dutch chip equipment maker ASML has locked in orders for its $200 million EUV machines through 2027 and is seeing strong customer adoption of its cutting-edge $400 million High NA lithography tools, promising to extend its dominance in advanced chip manufacturing into the 2030s.
- EUV machines are fully booked through 2027 amid AI chip demand
- High NA tools, nearly twice as expensive, offer 40% smaller feature printing
- Top chipmakers set production dates for High NA from 2028 onward
What happened
ASML, the Dutch leader in semiconductor lithography, has confirmed that its existing extreme ultraviolet (EUV) machines, costing around $200 million each, are essentially sold out through 2027. Customers—including industry giants like TSMC, Samsung, SK Hynix, and Intel—have begun committing to the adoption of ASML's next-generation High Numerical Aperture (High NA) EUV tools, priced at approximately $400 million each. These tools enable the printing of chip features about 40% smaller than current technology allows, promising more advanced and efficient chip designs.
Intel, the earliest adopter of High NA, has reported meeting key throughput and reliability milestones, while other major manufacturers have announced plans to enter production using High NA systems starting as early as 2028. This momentum suggests continued growth and technological investment driven by demand for advanced AI chips that require increasingly fine manufacturing precision.
Why it matters
ASML's dominance in the lithography market—estimated at 94% share in 2025—reflects its unique position as the sole commercial producer of EUV machines critical for the smallest, most powerful chips used in AI and other high-performance applications. No competitor currently offers comparable EUV technology, and alternatives using older deep ultraviolet light lack the ability to satisfy the industry's advancing demands.
The chip industry’s coordinated, long-term investment strategies hinge on the development and adoption of breakthrough tools like High NA. These tools allow chipmakers to continue shrinking semiconductor features, a key factor for enhancing performance, reducing manufacturing complexity, and enabling new chip architectures that will support AI and other cutting-edge technologies.
What to watch next
Monitor the pace at which major players like TSMC, Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron transition High NA machines from orders to full production integration. TSMC's confirmed use of High NA starting from 2030 will be a crucial indicator of mainstream adoption, especially given its role in supplying chips for technology powerhouses such as Apple and Nvidia.
Pay attention to potential expansions in ASML’s manufacturing capacity, including the new plant in Eindhoven, to meet rising global demand. Industry observers should also watch for developments related to competing lithography technologies from Japanese and emerging Chinese firms, although current expert analysis underscores ASML's solid technological lead with High NA and EUV dominance firmly intact.