ASML Owns 100% of EUV, India's USD 14B Fab, Korea ICT VC Up 99.5%

Investment Implications

ASML Owns the EUV Bottleneck. India Builds on Top. Korea Thickens the Edge.

South Korea's semiconductor sector is settling in as the first complement to China+1 capital flows just as ASML's 100% lock on EUV places even India's USD 14 billion fab on top of a single Dutch supply chain. The 99.5% surge in Korean ICT manufacturing venture investment in Q1 thickens around the same ASML choke point where India's semiconductor market is projected to hit USD 120 billion by 2030.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's two-day visit to the Netherlands wrapped with 17 agreements that elevated the bilateral relationship to a strategic partnership. At the same venue, Tata Electronics and Taiwan's Powerchip committed to a USD 14 billion semiconductor manufacturing facility in Dholera, Gujarat, to be equipped with ASML's leading-edge lithography systems. India's central government is pulling in global supply chain diversification (China+1) with subsidies of up to 50% from the center plus an additional 20-25% from state governments. ASML controls over 80% of the roughly USD 30.4 billion global semiconductor lithography equipment market and 100% of the EUV systems essential for chip manufacturing at 7nm and below. The result: India's leading-edge fab capital is wired into a single Dutch supplier's pipeline from day one.

According to a Deloitte report cited by The Hindu, India's semiconductor market is projected to grow from USD 45-50 billion in fiscal 2024-25 to USD 300 billion by 2035, with a target of shifting from over 90% import dependence today to 60% domestic production by 2035. Meanwhile, South Korea's ICT manufacturing venture investment jumped 99.5% year-over-year in Q1 2026, and the Korean government separately committed KRW 170 billion to small and midsize companies producing advanced strategic materials, parts, and equipment. As Indian semiconductor capital lands on top of one Dutch firm's supply chain, Korea's semiconductor materials, parts, and equipment ecosystem is thickening alongside as the complement.

Putting the three layers together: at the industrial layer, ASML is the single bottleneck of leading-edge chip manufacturing; at the capital layer, India just stacked USD 14 billion on top of that bottleneck; at the macro layer, China+1 diversification is settling in atop India's central subsidies of up to 50% and additional 20-25% state-level support. When all three align in the same direction, the near-term confirmation point is Korea's semiconductor materials, parts, and equipment sector. Once Indian fab capital flows accelerate, the next stop is the broader Korean leading-edge semiconductor complement chain.

Key Developments

Technology

ASML Holds Over 80% of USD 30.4 Billion Global Lithography Market and 100% of EUV

ASML controls more than 80% of the global semiconductor lithography equipment market (roughly USD 30.4 billion) and holds a 100% monopoly on EUV lithography machines essential for manufacturing advanced chips at 7nm and below, The Times of India reported. (Source: The Times of India)

ASML Maintains 100% Monopoly in EUV Lithography for Sub-7nm Chip Manufacturing

ASML remains the sole supplier with 100% market share in EUV lithography equipment, which is essential for manufacturing advanced chips at 7nm and below. (Source: The Times of India)

South Korea's Q1 2026 ICT Manufacturing Venture Investment Jumps 99.5% Year-over-Year

South Korea's ICT manufacturing venture investment surged 99.5% year-over-year in Q1 2026, the fastest growth among all sectors, driven in part by large AI semiconductor-related deals. (Source: Yonhap News)

Smartphone Memory Prices Surge from USD 20 to USD 75, Average Prices Up 10-15% on AI Memory Pressure

According to Counterpoint Research, smartphone memory prices have surged from approximately USD 20 to USD 75, and global AI memory demand pressure has already pushed average smartphone prices up by 10-15%. (Source: Mashable India)

CrowdStrike 2026 Global Threat Report: AI-Driven Cyberattacks Rise 89% Year-over-Year

According to CrowdStrike's 2026 Global Threat Report, AI-driven cyberattacks rose 89% year-over-year. (Source: TechTimes)

Cerebras Inks USD 20 Billion Deal with OpenAI and Partnership with AWS

AI chip company Cerebras signed a USD 20 billion deal with OpenAI earlier this year and entered into a partnership agreement with Amazon Web Services, CNBC reported. (Source: CNBC)

Saudi Arabia's Seha Virtual Hospital Connects 224 Hospitals, Delivers Over 16 Million Virtual Visits

Saudi Arabia's Seha Virtual Hospital operates as one of the world's largest national-scale virtual healthcare systems, connecting 224 hospitals and delivering more than 16 million virtual visits. (Source: World Economic Forum)

Economy

Foreign Investors Net-Sell INR 270.48 Billion in Indian Equities in May, YTD Outflows Hit INR 2.2 Trillion

Foreign investors net-sold INR 270.48 billion (27,048 crore rupees) in Indian equities in May 2026, with year-to-date net outflows reaching INR 2.2 trillion (2.2 lakh crore rupees), already exceeding the full-year 2025 total of INR 1.66 trillion. (Source: Economic Times India)

Japan 10-Year Yield Climbs to 2.7%, Top Three Megabanks Eye Record Profits on BOJ Hike Expectations

Japan's long-term interest rates have climbed to around 2.7%, and as expectations of a BOJ rate hike build, all three of the country's megabanks (including MUFG) are projecting record net profits, Nikkei Asia reported. (Source: Nikkei Asia)

South Korean Government Commits KRW 170 Billion to Advanced Strategic Materials, Parts, and Equipment SMEs

The South Korean government will invest KRW 170 billion (USD 113.3 million) to support small and midsize companies producing advanced strategic materials, parts, and equipment. (Source: Yonhap News)

Chinese Academy of Sciences Analyzes 21,439 River Reaches Worldwide (1985-2023): Oxygen Drops -0.045 mg/L per Decade, 78.8% Deoxygenated

A research team led by Prof. Kun Shi at the Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology (NIGLAS) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences analyzed observations from 21,439 river reaches worldwide between 1985 and 2023, finding that river oxygen levels declined at an average rate of -0.045 mg/L per decade and that 78.8% of rivers showed signs of deoxygenation. (Source: ScienceDaily)

U.S. Federal Government Prepares Colorado River 10-Year Framework with 40% Withdrawal Cut for California, Arizona, and Nevada

The U.S. federal government is preparing a new plan to manage Colorado River water allocations under a "10-year framework," proposing a 40% reduction in withdrawals across California, Arizona, and Nevada, with reassessment every two years. (Source: CleanTechnica)

South Africa's Water Supply with 'Poor' or 'Very Poor' Microbiological Quality Rises from 5% in 2014 to 46% in 2023

The share of South Africa's water supply systems rated "poor" or "very poor" in microbiological quality rose from 5% in 2014 to 46% in 2023, The Conversation reported. (Source: The Conversation)

South Africa's Non-Revenue Water Ratio Rises from 37% in 2014 to 47% in 2023, Far Above 30% Global Average

South Africa's non-revenue water ratio (unmetered, leaked, or uncollected water) rose from 37% in 2014 to 47% in 2023, well above the global average of around 30%. (Source: The Conversation)

Politics

India's PM Modi Signs 17 Agreements on Defense and Critical Minerals During Two-Day Netherlands Visit

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi signed 17 agreements covering cooperation in major areas including defense and critical minerals during his two-day visit to the Netherlands. (Source: Economic Times India)

USCIS Verifies 60 Million Voter Registrations via SAVE in One Year, 25+ States Use SAVE for Roll Checks

According to USCIS, more than 25 states have used the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) database to check voter rolls since the Trump administration expanded SAVE search functions in April 2025, with 60 million registrations verified in one year. (Source: KELOLAND)

U.S. Congress Allocates USD 150 Million for 250th Founding Anniversary in 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act'

Last year (2025), the U.S. Congress allocated USD 150 million for 250th founding anniversary commemoration projects under the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act." (Source: CNN)

USS Gerald R. Ford Returns to Virginia on May 16 After 11-Month Deployment, Longest Since Vietnam War

The U.S. aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford returned to Virginia on May 16 after an 11-month deployment, the longest since the Vietnam War, Al Jazeera reported. (Source: Al Jazeera)

Delhi Slashes Aviation Turbine Fuel VAT from 25% to 7% for Six Months, INR 98.5 Billion Revenue Loss Estimated

On May 16, 2026, India's Delhi state announced a temporary (six-month) cut in the value-added tax (VAT) on aviation turbine fuel (ATF) from 25% to 7%, with the Delhi government estimating revenue losses of approximately INR 98.5 billion. (Source: Economic Times India)

California, Arizona, and Nevada Announce Voluntary Plan to Cut Colorado River Use by Up to 3.25 Million Acre-Feet by 2028

California, Arizona, and Nevada announced a plan two weeks ago to voluntarily reduce water use by up to 3.25 million acre-feet by 2028, with proposed cuts of 760,000 from Arizona, 440,000 from California, and 50,000 from Nevada. (Source: CleanTechnica)

South Korea Has Invoked Emergency Arbitration Four Times Since 1963, Most Recently During Korean Air Strike in December 2005

Since South Korea introduced its emergency arbitration system in 1963, the government has invoked the measure four times, most recently during the Korean Air strike of December 2005, Yonhap News reported. (Source: Yonhap News)

Society

Pew Research Survey of 3,560 U.S. Adults: 59% Say America's Best Years Are Behind Us

A Pew Research Center survey of 3,560 U.S. adults conducted between December 8-14, 2025, found that 59% of Americans believe the country's best years are in the past, while 40% said they lie ahead. (Source: Pew Research Center)

Pew Research: 44% Pessimistic vs 28% Optimistic on U.S. 50 Years Out, Pessimism Leads by 16 Percentage Points

In the same Pew survey, 44% of Americans said they were pessimistic about the U.S. situation 50 years from now, 28% optimistic, and 27% neutral, with pessimism leading optimism by 16 percentage points. (Source: Pew Research Center)

Argentina's Per Capita Annual Beef Consumption Falls to 44.5kg, a 20-Year Low — Down from 49.5kg Year-over-Year and 63.4kg in 2006

In April 2026, Argentina's per capita annual beef consumption fell to 44.5kg from 49.5kg a year earlier, marking a 20-year low compared with 63.4kg in 2006, Associated Press reported. (Source: Associated Press)

Kenya Graduates Around 1,500 Cybersecurity Professionals Annually, Employers Still Struggle to Fill Roles

According to the 2026 Cyber Shujaa Industry Report, approximately 1,500 Kenyan cybersecurity graduates enter the labor market each year, yet employers continue to struggle to fill specific cybersecurity positions, The Standard reported. (Source: The Standard)