Netherlands becomes Europe’s second-largest AI equipment exporter

The Netherlands has become Europe’s second-largest exporter of AI-enabling equipment, trailing only Germany, according to a report by credit insurer Atradius. The country holds a 7 percent share of the global AI equipment market, with export values exceeding €80 billion.

This significant market position is largely driven by ASML, the Veldhoven-based manufacturer of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machines. ASML is currently the only company globally capable of producing the machines required to manufacture the world’s most advanced processors. Additionally, the Netherlands serves as a European logistics hub, re-exporting network switches and routers produced elsewhere.

The global trade in AI-enabling goods reached €2.9 trillion in 2024, tripling in value over the last decade. However, the market remains highly concentrated; Asian economies account for 65 percent of this trade, with major players including China, Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, and Hong Kong. This concentration poses risks to European AI development regarding supply chain disruptions and export controls. In response, the EU Chips Act aims to double Europe’s share of global chip production to 20 percent by 2030.