South Korea Overtook China as ASML’s Largest Market Last Quarter

South Korea surpassed China as ASML’s top customer in Q1 2026, driven by surging demand from its memory chip manufacturers. The shift reflects aggressive procurement by Korean firms like Samsung and SK Hynix to expand production amid persistent global chip shortages. AI’s rapid growth is the primary catalyst, with memory chips becoming critical for training and deploying advanced AI models. ASML’s lithography machines—essential for cutting-edge chipmaking—are now prioritized for Korean fabs over Chinese buyers, marking a strategic supply chain realignment. This trend underscores Korea’s dominance in memory chip production, reinforcing its role as a key player in the AI-driven semiconductor race.