Keystone-SDA
The manufacturer of machines for the ASML semiconductor sector announced a sharp increase in its net profit in the second quarter, compared to the equivalent quarter of 2024. The Dutch group, however, displays its uncertainty about its growth in 2026.
(Keystone-ATS) “By 2026, we note that the fundamentals of our customers in the field of AI remain solid,” Christophe Fouquet, the director general of the company, said in a statement on Wednesday. “Although we were still preparing for growth in 2026, we cannot confirm it at this stage,” he added, evoking an “growing uncertainty” linked to macroeconomic and geopolitical developments.
The second quarter net profit amounted to 2.3 billion euros, compared to 1.6 billion euros at the same period last year, said technological giant. Net reservations, collected by investors as an indicator of future performance, were established at 5.5 billion euros in the second quarter, against 3.9 billion euros in the first quarter.
During the presentation of the results of the first quarter in April, Mr. Fouquet had already warned of “increased uncertainty” due to customs duties. However, he had reiterated his conviction that 2025 and 2026 would be “years of growth”.
The company also displayed a net turnover of 7.7 billion euros in the second quarter of 2025, at the top of the range of its forecasts, which were between 7.2 and 7.7 billion euros.
AI, “a great opportunity”
ASML is an essential cog in the global economy, semiconductors that its machines help to make everything, from smartphones to missiles. In the longer term, ASML thinks that the AI market, in full expansion, will increase sales between 44 and 60 billion euros by 2030.
“I think that in the long term, the semiconductor market remains very solid,” said Fouquet. “And I think many people say that AI is really a great opportunity,” he added.
The semiconductor industry has been shaken by geopolitical turbulence in recent years. The United States has sought to slow down the exports of cutting-edge fleas to China, fearing that it will be used to advance the military systems of Beijing and to undermine American domination in the field of AI.
In May, the Trump administration canceled certain export controls on semiconductors. But Washington has also unveiled new guidelines warning companies that the use of high-tech AI semiconductors made in China, in particular the Ascend chips of the Huawei technological giant, would expose them at the risk of breaking American export regulations.
Beijing called these warnings as typical unilateral intimidation and protectionism “. On Tuesday, the American giant of NVIDIA technology announced that it would resume sales of its artificial intelligence fleas H20 in China, after Washington is committed to suppressing the permit restrictions that had interrupted exports.
