Some Nexperia Chip Shipments Resume as Germany Hails De-escalation

Nexperia, the Dutch-based semiconductor firm owned by China’s Wingtech Technology, has resumed partial shipments of its automotive-chip products, according to industry executives. Germany’s economy ministry described the development as a welcome “de-escalation” in the company’s export dispute with China.

The supply disruption emerged after the Dutch government seized control of Nexperia at the end of September over national-security concerns. China responded by halting exports of Nexperia’s chips from its packaging facility — a move that triggered disruptions in the global automotive industry.

German officials said they now hope short-term individual export permits will be issued quickly, allowing a broader flow of chips to resume. One German automotive supplier, Aumovio, confirmed it had received a Chinese export exemption and said it will likely avoid planned production cuts.

Nexperia itself declined to confirm that full shipments have resumed but stated it expects normal flows to restart soon now that China’s commerce ministry is open to granting exemptions.

Analysis / Impact:
The gradual resumption of Nexperia shipments provides relief for automakers — especially European manufacturers reliant on Nexperia’s widely used chips for functions like air bag control, sensors and seat-motors. It also indicates that diplomatic and trade pressures are giving way to more stable supply-chain negotiation.

However, the recovery remains fragile. The system of case-by-case export permits means there is no guarantee of full normalisation. Automakers and suppliers still face uncertainty, especially if geopolitical frictions between China, the Netherlands and the U.S. re-escalate.

Long-term, the episode underscores the strategic vulnerability of global chip supply chains to national-security actions and export restrictions. Firms may now accelerate efforts to diversify sources or build inventory buffers to avoid future disruption.