The ASML expects that its capacity to supply equipment for semiconductor manufacturing will be insufficient to meet customer demand in 2027 and 2028, even considering the expansions already planned. The warning was disclosed this Wednesday (14), alongside the third-quarter 2026 results, and primarily reflects the advance of investments in artificial intelligence.
The Dutch manufacturer reported € 11.66 billion in revenue and € 4.96 billion in net profit in the quarter, with a gross margin of 57.5%. Sales of new lithography systems reached 113 units, compared with 86 in the previous quarter.
The growth accompanies a continuous revision of equipment needs by chip manufacturers. According to ASML, customers are raising their demand forecasts for the short and medium term as they expand their investment plans in AI infrastructure.
ASML studies expanding 2028 capacity beyond the 30% already planned
In July, the company had announced plans to raise by 30% its production capacity for EUV and immersion DUV equipment in 2027, using 2026 as a reference. For 2028, it was already investigating an additional 30% expansion.
Now, the manufacturer considers that even these increases will not be sufficient to cover projected demand. The company has begun studying an even larger expansion of capacity in 2028, but did not present new volumes or a timeline for this additional expansion.
Another measure involves productivity upgrades to equipment already installed in customers' factories. These improvements make it possible to process more wafers, the silicon wafers used in semiconductor manufacturing, without relying exclusively on the delivery of new machines.
The identified bottleneck is therefore in ASML's capacity to supply lithography equipment, and not in a widespread chip shortage already confirmed for 2027 and 2028.
The pressure is also bringing purchasing planning forward. CEO Christophe Fouquet revealed that some customers have already shown interest in placing orders for 2029 and even 2030. These indications, however, do not yet necessarily represent finalized contracts.
For the fourth quarter of 2026, ASML projects revenue between € 14.2 billion and € 15.2 billion, with a gross margin close to 57%. The revenue forecast for the full year was raised to € 44 billion to € 45 billion.
