SK Hynix Orders 11.95 Trillion Won in EUV Gear from ASML

SK Hynix, a leading South Korean memory chip manufacturer, disclosed plans on Tuesday to purchase approximately 8 billion worth of extreme ultraviolet lithography equipment from ASML, the Dutch company that holds a monopoly on such advanced systems. The deal, valued at 11.95 trillion won, marks the largest single publicly announced order for EUV machines by any ASML customer and will support the production of next-generation memory chips through deliveries completed by December 2027.

The equipment acquisition aims to bolster SK Hynix's capacity amid surging demand for high-bandwidth memory chips used in artificial intelligence applications. According to the company's regulatory filing, the purchase includes costs for the machines, installation, and modifications, with payments to be made in installments upon delivery. Analysts estimate the order covers around 30 EUV systems over the next two years, slightly exceeding prior forecasts of 26 machines. Each system, essential for etching microscopic circuits on silicon wafers, costs hundreds of millions of dollars.

The new tools will be deployed across two key facilities in South Korea. The M15X plant in Cheongju, which began wafer...