ASML, Europe’s most valuable company, lifted its 2026 sales outlook to €36bn‑€40bn, a rise of up to 22% versus 2025. The Dutch group cited surging AI‑chip demand that outpaces supply at manufacturers such as TSMC. Its Amsterdam‑listed shares have risen roughly 40% this year as Samsung and Intel also increase orders.

Q1 revenue climbed 13% year‑on‑year to €8.8bn, nudging past analyst forecasts, while net profit rose 17% to €2.8bn. CFO Roger Dassen said even legacy lithography systems are likely to post higher sales, driven by memory‑chip shortages that are inflating prices for PCs, smartphones and game consoles. The strong top‑line reinforces the AI‑fuelled growth narrative.

Washington is intensifying pressure on the Netherlands to curb exports of advanced chip‑making gear, with a draft bill proposing tighter limits on sales to Chinese firms such as Huawei and SMIC. Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten, who recently met President Trump and the Dutch royal couple, said the issue would be raised in Brussels. Even with these geopolitical risks, ASML’s earnings now hinge on continued AI‑driven equipment demand.