SINGAPORE/PALO ALTO, U.S./WASHINGTON -- ASML's sales to China surged in July-September as chipmakers in the country raced to buy equipment before any further export controls from the Netherlands or the U.S. went into effect.

The world's most valuable chip tool maker logged 2.44 billion euros ($2.58 billion) in sales to China in the three months -- nearly double the previous quarter -- to account for 46% of total revenue for the period. China sales accounted for just 24% of ASML's total in the April-June quarter, when the country trailed Taiwan and South Korea as ASML's major markets.