ASML boss says “zero” signs of easing demand from semiconductor manufacturers
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) – There isn’t a signal of any slackening in demand from semiconductor producers amid the worldwide pc chip scarcity, the chief government of key tools provider ASML Holding NV mentioned on Wednesday, particularly out there for older chips.
ASML, which sells tools to TSMC, Samsung, Intel and others, earlier reported higher than anticipated first quarter earnings.
“At present we see no indicators of any weakening in our buyer base. Zero,” Peter Wennink mentioned on a name with analysts. “And even when demand weakens, there’s a large hole between the demand and our capability.”
Wennink dismissed questions on attainable slack within the business, saying that along with a ready interval of greater than a 12 months for the corporate’s innovative merchandise, “virtually each buyer we’ve got ever bought a machine to” is at present making an attempt to accumulate older chip manufacturing tools.
ASML makes lithography methods, used to create the circuitry of pc chips.
Wennink instructed an anecdote about an unnamed main industrial firm that he mentioned was shopping for previous washing machines with a view to salvage the chips in them, including that the story was not distinctive.
He additionally famous that utilisation charges of ASML’s machines had been at all-time highs, suggesting that prospects are shopping for extra to not stockpile however as a result of they can not sustain with demand.
“You inform me whether or not we’re too optimistic,” he mentioned in reply to 1 query. “We’re simply wanting on the information factors, they only level to a market that’s considerably in need of semiconductor manufacturing capability. This 12 months and subsequent 12 months.”
The corporate’s shares had been up 6% at 595 euros at 1412 GMT.
(Reporting by Toby Sterling; Modifying by Kirsten Donovan)
