ASML says it sold 'absolutely nothing' in Europe in 2026

Commenters parsed why ASML says it sold nothing in Europe in 2026 by pointing to a mix of regulation, economics, and supply-chain realities. Several argued that strict environmental and planning rules, high energy costs or rationing, and bureaucratic hurdles deter new fabs (HPsquared, l5870uoo9y, upupupandaway). Others emphasized that Europe lacks end-to-end semiconductor ecosystems - advanced chips are made or packaged elsewhere - so there’s little strategic demand for “Made in Europe” lithography (petcat, bethekidyouwant, alephnerd). Some highlighted geopolitics and subsidies as key: t43562 noted US CHIPS Act subsidies as a major pull for American orders, while commenters pointed to Asia and the US as ASML’s main customers (cl42).

Opinion divides sharply over the root cause. A cohort blamed short‑sighted corporate buying and political choice - European firms preferring cheaper imports and governments failing to coordinate industrial policy (hn_submit, soco, alephnerd). Others pushed back, saying regulation and energy excuses are overplayed and pointed to examples like Intel’s massive Irish fab as proof Europe can host big projects when incentives align (piltdownman, alephnerd, mikeyouse). There were also cultural and geopolitical takes about foreign‑policy postures and national priorities affecting investment. The debate centers on whether Europe’s problem is regulation and environmental caution, weak coordination and incentives, corporate profit-seeking, or external subsidy-driven competition.