SK Hynix Invests $8B in ASML EUV Machines

According to reports, SK Hynix has announced plans to purchase approximately 12 trillion won (about $8 billion) worth of advanced semiconductor manufacturing equipment from ASML to support the rapidly growing demand for memory chips.

According to a regulatory filing, the equipment—primarily extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography systems—will be delivered by December 2027 and deployed in the company’s next-generation semiconductor manufacturing processes.

The investment comes as SK Hynix accelerates production of advanced memory products, including high-bandwidth memory (HBM), to meet strong demand from artificial intelligence (AI) applications. As AI workloads continue to expand across data centers and high-performance computing platforms, memory bandwidth and efficiency have become increasingly critical.

SK Hynix plans to use the new EUV lithography tools to speed up the transition to its sixth-generation 1c DRAM process technology. The 1c node is expected to support a range of next-generation memory products, including DDR5, LPDDR6, and HBM solutions designed for AI and high-performance computing environments. The advanced process is intended to improve semiconductor manufacturing efficiency, enhance power efficiency, and increase data processing performance.

A representative from SK Hynix stated that the company's objective is to respond to robust global demand for memory chips while strengthening its leadership in the memory market.

Although SK Hynix did not disclose the exact number of EUV systems included in the agreement, semiconductor industry estimates suggest that a single EUV lithography machine costs roughly 500 billion won. Based on this estimate, the deal could involve around 20 EUV systems.

Previously, ASML indicated plans to supply approximately 56 EUV lithography systems based on projected semiconductor market demand, with industry expectations that around 20 units would be allocated to SK Hynix. With this contract, SK Hynix's total EUV installation could reach roughly 40 systems, narrowing the gap with Samsung Electronics, which is estimated to operate about 60 EUV lithography machines.