ASM International’s bookings beat market view as China orders rebound

By Nathan Vifflin

Jan 19 (Reuters) – Computer chip equipment maker ASM International on Monday reported preliminary bookings above market expectations for the fourth quarter of 2025, backed by a rebound in orders from China.

Europe’s second largest chipmaking equipment manufacturer also hiked its guidance for the first quarter of 2026. It now sees a “healthy” revenue increase on a constant currency basis compared to last quarter, having previously forecast a slow start to the year.

“We view this update as highly supportive for sustained growth throughout full-year 2026,” ING analyst Marc Hesselink said in an emailed comment.

Quarterly order intake grew to about 800 million euros ($930 million), the Dutch company said in an unscheduled statement, beating analysts’ 669-million-euro forecast, according to a poll by Visible Alpha.

“The stronger-than-expected bookings were driven by a rebound in orders from China toward the end of the quarter as well as solid bookings in the advanced logic/foundry segment,” ASM said.

The company’s preliminary revenue was 698 million euros, also topping an LSEG poll estimate of 656 million euros.

The positive preliminary readings suggest that “China’s capacity digestion may be less severe than previously feared”, Hesselink said.

ASM’s third-quarter results, reported in October, had been hurt by a larger than expected drop from China, the world’s largest buyer of chipmaking equipment.

ASM International will report its full-year and fourth-quarter results on March 3.

($1 = 0.8600 euros)

(Reporting by Nathan Vifflin in Gdansk, editing by Milla Nissi-Prussak)