ASML Confirms No Chip Equipment Sales Within Europe Amid Investment Drought

European lithography leader ASML has disclosed that it is not currently selling any chip‑making equipment to customers located in Europe, senior executive Frank Heemskerk told reporters. He attributed the stall to a “lack of investment and zero new chip factories” on the continent, according to Times of India.

The statement comes as the United States, China and India intensify outreach to ASML, hoping to secure access to its advanced extreme ultraviolet (EUV) machines. While ASML’s revenue is still heavily tied to overseas fabs, the absence of domestic orders underscores a broader shortfall in Europe’s ambition to revive its semiconductor ecosystem.

EU policymakers have been pushing the Chips Act, a legislative package aimed at doubling the region’s share of the global chip market by 2030. Despite generous subsidies and tax incentives, the act has struggled to attract the large‑scale fabs needed to justify the purchase of ASML’s multi‑billion‑dollar tools. Industry insiders note that building a new fab can cost upwards of €10 billion, a hurdle many European chipmakers are not prepared to meet without clearer demand forecasts.

ASML’s chief executive Christophe Fouquet and chief financial officer Roger Dassen have previously warned Brussels that the EU’s regulatory approach to artificial intelligence and broader tech sovereignty could further deter investment. Their concerns echo a sentiment that without a coherent policy framework, Europe risks losing its competitive edge in high‑tech manufacturing.

The situation has implications for the continent’s supply chain resilience. A robust domestic semiconductor base is viewed as essential for strategic sectors such as automotive, aerospace and defense. If European fabs remain dormant, the region will continue to rely on imports, potentially exposing it to geopolitical shocks and limiting its influence over future chip‑design standards.

The lack of ASML sales within Europe therefore highlights a critical gap between policy intent and market reality, prompting calls for more decisive action to stimulate fab construction and secure the continent’s place in the next generation of semiconductor technology.