SEOUL – The global semiconductor landscape is witnessing a decisive shift toward South Korea. ASML, the world’s sole provider of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography systems, announced on April 15 (local time) that its first-quarter revenue for 2026 was heavily driven by concentrated equipment deliveries to South Korean memory giants. The news confirms that Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix are on the verge of operationalizing their newest fabrication plants (fabs) to dominate the artificial intelligence (AI) memory market.
Korea Emerges as ASML’s Largest Revenue Source
According to ASML’s Q1 2026 earnings report, the company recorded revenue of €8.77 billion (approx. KRW 13.33 trillion) with a gross margin of 53%. A striking 66% of total system sales originated from EUV technology, signaling a rapid industry-wide transition toward 2nm and sub-2nm processes.
The most notable shift occurred in the geographic revenue distribution. South Korea’s share of ASML’s total revenue skyrocketed from 22% in Q4 2025 to 45% in Q1 2026. This nearly doubling of revenue share highlights an aggressive "Move-In" phase where dozens of EUV units—each costing hundreds of millions of dollars—were installed in Korean facilities during the first three months of the year.
New Fabs Ready for the AI Era
While ASML did not explicitly name its clients, industry analysts point to Samsung Electronics’ P4 and P5 lines in Pyeongtaek and SK Hynix’s M15X fab in Cheongju as the primary destinations for these shipments. These facilities are central to the production of HBM4, the next generation of High Bandwidth Memory essential for AI accelerators.
"The expansion of the Korean market is a highly strategic movement," stated Roger Dassen, CFO of ASML. "The importance of lithography technology has never been greater in the production of HBM4 and advanced DRAM. We are also seeing active participation from memory clients in verifying High-NA EUV technology, which we expect to contribute to mass production by late 2026 or 2027."
A Pivot from China to High-End Tech
ASML’s dependence on the Chinese market, which once neared 40%, has stabilized at 19%. Analysts view this normalization as a positive development, allowing ASML to mitigate geopolitical risks and refocus its portfolio on high-margin, cutting-edge technology for South Korea and Taiwan.
The company provided a robust guidance for the second quarter, projecting revenue between €9 billion and €9.5 billion. With a massive backlog of €13.2 billion and an improving product mix, ASML anticipates its gross margin to rise up to 55% in the coming months.
Strategic Implications for the Global Supply Chain
The concentration of EUV equipment in Korea suggests that the race for AI supremacy is entering a new phase. By securing the lion's share of lithography capacity, South Korean manufacturers are building a "technological moat" against competitors. As the industry moves toward 2nm nodes, the synergy between ASML’s advanced optics and Korea’s manufacturing prowess is set to define the next decade of semiconductor evolution.
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