Dropping another "killer move"! ASML(ASML.US) 1000W Light Source Released, Chip Production Capacity Could Surge 50% by 2030

Bloomberg News has learned that Dutch semiconductor equipment giant ASML (ASML.US) has made a new breakthrough in extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography light source technology. This advancement is expected to increase chip production by 50% by 2030.

ASML’s Chief Technology Officer Michael Pervas told reporters at an office near San Diego, “This is not a fleeting demonstration trick, but a system capable of continuously producing 1,000 watts of power under all the same conditions seen at customer sites.”

ASML is the only company in the world capable of manufacturing EUV lithography machines. Chip foundries like TSMC (TSM.US) and Intel (INTC.US) rely on its equipment to produce advanced processors. However, the market landscape faces potential challenges. Last year, startups including Substrate and xLight received $150 million in funding from the Trump administration, aiming to break ASML’s market monopoly.

Colorado State University professor Jorge J. Roca pointed out that the current EUV light source power is 600 watts, and reaching 1,000 watts is a significant step forward.

Pervas said the company’s vision is to continue pushing technological progress beyond the 1,000-watt mark and further strengthen its market position. “We see a fairly clear path to 1,500 watts, and there is no fundamental reason preventing us from reaching 2,000 watts.”

On Monday during the late trading session, ASML’s stock price slightly declined.

At the end of January, ASML released its Q4 2025 financial report (ending December 2025). The company continues to benefit from hundreds of billions of dollars in investments in AI infrastructure and reported strong performance. Its quarterly report showed record new orders and forecasted continued sales growth in 2026.

ASML remains optimistic about the future. Its customers, major chip manufacturers worldwide, are confident in the sustained demand for AI-related applications and capacity expansion, which has driven ASML’s order growth.

Meanwhile, despite strong ongoing performance, ASML announced a plan to cut about 1,700 jobs. The layoffs mainly affect the technical and IT departments, primarily involving management positions in the Netherlands, and will also impact its US operations. Based on the company’s current total employee count, the layoffs account for approximately 4%.