ASML reported that South Korea became its largest market in the first quarter of 2026. South Korea accounted for 45% of net system sales during the quarter. This share increased from 22% in the fourth quarter of 2025.
Samsung and SK Hynix drove the shift by expanding capacity for AI applications. These manufacturers placed large orders to meet rising demand for memory chips.
Sales to China dropped to 19% of system sales in Q1 2026. This figure fell from 36% in the fourth quarter of 2025.