Executives at Dutch computer chip equipment maker ASML on Wednesday said they expect demand from Chinese customers to remain strong, representing "in the ballpark" of 20% of the company's order backlog.

Chief executive Peter Wennink said on a call after the company's first quarter earnings that there is currently no reason the company cannot provide servicing for equipment it has sold to Chinese customers.

The US and Dutch government are in talks on restricting ASML's ability to provide maintenance and servicing for expensive equipment sold to Chinese chipmakers that would now require an export licence under rules introduced in the past year.

  - Reuters