ASML Q3 Report: CEO Says Some Clients Discussing 2030 Orders as AI Demand Outstrips Supply

Global lithography leader ASML released its third-quarter financial report on October 14, 2026. The company achieved net sales of €11.7 billion, a gross margin of 57.5%, and net profit of €5.0 billion in the quarter. Based on this performance, ASML raised its full-year 2026 net sales guidance to between €44 billion and €45 billion, representing an expected year-over-year growth of approximately 36%.

Regarding capacity and demand, ASML President and CEO Christophe Fouquet stated that customers are continuously raising their short- and medium-term demand expectations for equipment, primarily driven by their assessment of the scale and duration of artificial intelligence investments. He revealed that the industry expects to remain in a state of undersupply until at least 2028, with some clients already initiating discussions for equipment orders in 2029 or even 2030.

Despite these optimistic outlooks, Fouquet noted that current planned supply capacities for 2027 and 2028 will still be insufficient to fully meet customer needs. Consequently, ASML is studying plans to further increase 2028 production capacity, aiming to exceed the previously announced 30% capacity expansion target. This statement highlights the existing physical bottlenecks and potential measures to address long-term demand.

CFO Roger Dassen added that the full-year 2026 gross margin expectation was raised to approximately 56%, mainly due to increased business volume, product mix optimization, and strong performance in installed base services. He emphasized that while communications with major clients regarding value-based pricing have been completed, the impact on margins will begin to materialize gradually in 2027 and be fully reflected from 2028 onwards.