The culprit who caused ASML to collapse? Rumor has it that Samsung delayed the receipt of EUV lithography machines and other equipment
Samsung Electronics has postponed the acceptance of ASML's chip manufacturing equipment due to not yet winning major customers. This move has affected its $17 billion factory project in Texas, leading to other suppliers also delaying orders. ASML has lowered its sales forecast for 2025 due to a soft market, without disclosing the delayed customers. The delivery of EUV lithography machines is delayed, with specific quantities and payment terms still unclear
According to the information obtained by Zhitong Finance APP, three insiders revealed that Samsung Electronics has postponed the receipt of chip manufacturing equipment from ASML.US for its upcoming factory in Texas because the company has not secured any major customers for the project.
In addition, three other insiders stated that Samsung has also delayed placing orders with some other suppliers for its $17 billion factory in Taylor city, prompting these suppliers to seek other customers and causing on-site staff to return home.
The delay in equipment delivery is another setback for the Taylor project. The project is a core goal of Samsung's chairman, as the company aims to expand its business from basic storage chips to contract chip manufacturing. This also highlights the widening gap between Samsung and competitors such as TSMC and SK Hynix. These two companies are ramping up production of high-end chips to meet the growing demand for artificial intelligence applications.
ASML, the world's largest chip manufacturing equipment supplier, lowered its sales forecast for 2025 on Tuesday, citing weak markets outside of artificial intelligence and delayed construction of chip factories.
ASML did not disclose the names of the customers delaying the factory construction. Reuters first reported that Samsung had postponed the delivery of some ASML equipment.
Two sources mentioned that the delay in shipping to Samsung's Taylor factory involves ASML's advanced chip manufacturing equipment EUV lithography machines.
One of them stated that these machines were originally scheduled for delivery earlier this year but have not been shipped yet. The third source mentioned that Samsung has postponed the delivery of some ASML equipment to the factory without specifying the equipment or the revised delivery schedule.
It is currently unclear how many EUV machines Samsung has ordered and what payment terms have been agreed upon