ASML to Raise Prices of Lithography Machine Components for Samsung and SK Hynix by 10% Across the Board, AI Expansion Boom Drives Up Equipment Costs

October 10 — According to South Korean media reports, ASML has notified Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix that it will uniformly raise prices for EUV and DUV lithography machine components for the South Korean market by 10%, covering consumable parts subject to regular replacement as well as core components required for fault repairs, involving optical systems, light sources, and precision drive devices. After negotiations between the two companies' procurement departments, the two memory chip giants have accepted the price increase plan, with the related adjustments expected to take effect in January next year.

This across-the-board uniform price increase is relatively rare. ASML previously typically adjusted prices only for individual components due to rising raw material costs or tight supply of specific materials. At the same time, the company is negotiating with major customers over price increases for new equipment. According to earlier reports, equipment manufacturers such as Applied Materials and Tokyo Electron have also pushed forward product price increases, and the trend of price hikes in the semiconductor equipment industry is spreading.

AI data center investment is driving memory chip and wafer foundry manufacturers to expand capacity, leading to a concentrated release of demand for equipment and components, while suppliers need time to expand production. Combined with inflation and raw material cost pressures, bargaining power in the equipment supply chain is shifting toward suppliers. The report said TSMC had previously opposed ASML's equipment price increases, indicating that different customers still differ in their acceptance of rising costs.