LSouth Korean chipmaker SK Hynix announced on Tuesday that it will purchase 11.95 trillion won ($7.97 billion) worth of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography tools from Dutch semiconductor equipment maker ASML, marking the largest single order publicly disclosed by an ASML customer.
According to a regulatory filing, SK Hynix plans to complete the purchase by December 31, 2027, with the tools intended for mass production of new memory chip products. Earlier reports indicated that the company aims to accelerate the opening of its new plant in Yongin city to February 2027 to meet growing global demand for memory chips.
Ryu Young-ho, a senior analyst at NH Investment & Securities, noted that the EUV machines will be deployed across both the Yongin facility and the M15X plant in Cheongju, which produces high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips critical for artificial intelligence applications. “The EUV equipment purchased is therefore expected to be used for both HBM and advanced DRAM production,” he said.
Analyst David Dao of Bernstein estimated that the order likely represents around 30 new EUV machines over two years, slightly more than his earlier forecast of 26. ASML reported a €38.8 billion order backlog at the end of 2025, reflecting continued strong demand for its advanced chipmaking equipment.
An ASML spokesperson declined to comment on individual customer plans. Following the announcement, ASML shares in Amsterdam rose 0.9% to €1,185.60 at 0822 GMT, while SK Hynix shares closed 5.7% higher after reports that the company may raise up to $10 billion through a U.S. listing, according to the Korea Economic Daily.
The record order underscores the growing global demand for advanced memory chips and highlights SK Hynix’s commitment to expanding its production capabilities to support next-generation technologies such as AI and high-performance computing.