Q1 new bookings 3.6 bln euros vs forecast 5.4 bln euros
Company keeps fullyear financial forecasts, sees strong 2025
Strong Chinese sales support earnings; shares fall.

AMSTERDAM, April 17 Reuters ASML, the largest supplier of equipment to computer chip makers, reported weaker than expected firstquarter new bookings on Wednesday, although sales to China held up despite U.S.led restrictions.

Shares in Europe39;s biggest tech firm, which had risen 34 this year, were down 4.5 to 872.50 euros at 1240 GMT.

The Dutch group is seeing a lull in demand for its most advanced machines, but gearing up for a strong 2025 due to demand for AI and memory chips, including from top customer TSMC of Taiwan, which makes chips for Nvidia and Apple.

ASML dominates the market for lithography systems, machines that can cost hundreds millions of euros each and use light beams to help create microscopic circuitry. It is set to benefit from new chip plants planned with support from governments in Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, and the United States.

New bookings in the first quarter were 3.6 billion euros 3.8 billion, well below the 5.4 billion euros seen by analysts polled by Reuters.

Analysts and investors took that in their stride, noting that the many plants being built globally would need ASML equipment, while adding it would be a problem if new orders didn39;t come through in the rest of this year.

Although disappointing we would not read too much into it as order intake is…