ASML Holding NV's CFO Roger Dassen projected a significant demand boost for chips during Wednesday's earnings call, stating that relaxing U.S. export restrictions on select AI processors would "positively impact chip demand." This outlook emerges as NVIDIA Corp secured U.S. government approval to export certain previously banned AI chips to China, with rival Advanced Micro Devices Inc promptly issuing a similar announcement.

These export licenses could unlock billions in annual revenue for affected companies, signaling a substantial policy reversal from Washington. The Trump administration had previously deemed such exports non-negotiable. ASML, the Dutch manufacturer of cutting-edge chipmaking equipment, stands to benefit from increased customer demand driven by expanded Chinese exports.

However, ongoing trade disputes and geopolitical tensions continue to pressure ASML's sales performance. The company revised downward its 2025 growth forecast on Wednesday, with Dassen explicitly citing tariff-related risks as a key concern. Market volatility persists as industry players navigate shifting regulatory landscapes and supply chain uncertainties.