Investing.com — The Dutch government has been excluding billions of euros in sales by tech company ASML (AS:ASML) to China from its disclosures on exports of sensitive goods, according to information provided by the foreign ministry. The undisclosed sales, which were not previously reported, have sparked interest as they may limit a complete understanding of the Netherlands’ exports of goods with military applications.
ASML, a manufacturer of computer chip equipment, reported more than $7 billion in sales to China in 2024. However, the company does not provide details on the types of machinery it sells by region. The specific type of lithography tool purchased by ASML’s customers is significant, as it determines the sophistication of the chips they can produce.
The decision by the Dutch government to keep most of ASML’s Chinese sales information private dates back to September 2023. The Netherlands had introduced a national list of “dual use” goods, which have military significance, under pressure from the United States. This list primarily focused on ASML’s DUV tools, which require an export license. The company’s most advanced EUV tools have always required such a license.
The foreign ministry stated that while it is required to disclose license grants for goods considered sensitive by the European Union, such as EUV tools, this obligation does not extend to the DUV tools on the Dutch national list. The ministry explained that disclosing such information could be traced back to specific companies, thereby revealing commercially sensitive business data.
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