ASML Shares Fall as China Sales Decline Despite AI Boom

Shares of ASML fell as much as 6% after the company reported a decline in sales to China due to export restrictions, according to Ines Ferré of Yahoo Finance.

ASML raised its full-year net sales forecast to between €36 billion and €40 billion. (Photo: ASML Facebook)

China accounted for 19% of net system sales in the first quarter of 2026, down sharply from 36% in the previous quarter, reflecting the impact of limits on advanced chipmaking equipment exports.

Despite the decline, CEO Christophe Fouquet highlighted strong demand driven by artificial intelligence, noting that customers are accelerating capacity expansion plans.

ASML raised its full-year net sales forecast to between €36 billion and €40 billion, supported by continued investment in semiconductor infrastructure.

However, second-quarter guidance fell slightly below Wall Street expectations, contributing to the stock’s decline. Even with the drop, ASML shares remain up 35% year-to-date, reflecting strong momentum in the broader semiconductor sector.