Amsterdam, Netherlands – ASML Holding, the world's leading supplier of lithography machines used to manufacture semiconductor chips, has warned that China's semiconductor industry is at least a decade behind its major competitors.

In an interview with Dutch newspaper NRC, ASML CEO Peter Wennink stated that while Chinese companies like SMIC and Huawei have made significant strides, particularly in 7nm node production, they still face a substantial gap in advanced semiconductor technology.

Wennink attributed this gap in part to the export controls imposed on advanced chipmaking equipment, notably the extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography systems that ASML exclusively supplies. "The EUV export ban is a major roadblock for China's semiconductor ambitions," Wennink said. "Even if China were to develop its own EUV technology, it would likely take at least 10-15 years, by which time Samsung and TSMC would have already moved on to the next generation of technology."

The ASML CEO also expressed concerns about the increasing geopolitical tensions surrounding the semiconductor industry. "It seems that economic motivations are being masked by national security concerns," Wennink said, referring to the US government's tightening sanctions on China.

ASML's assessment comes as the global semiconductor industry grapples with supply chain disruptions and escalating trade tensions. The company's EUV systems are seen as essential for producing the most advanced chips used in smartphones, artificial intelligence, and high-performance computing.