The Dutch government expects chip deliveries from Nexperia’s Chinese factories to resume in the coming days, following what it described as “constructive” talks with the Chinese authorities.

Economic affairs minister Vincent Karremans said in an update on Thursday evening that shipments of Nexperia chips from China to Europe and other parts of the world should reach customers “in the coming days”.

“The Netherlands will closely monitor and support these developments, and
will take the appropriate steps on our part where necessary,” the minister’s statement said.

News agency Bloomberg say this means the minister is prepared to withdraw his takeover order of September 30 if China lifts its export ban on Nexperia chips – but this has not been confirmed by the ministry.

In September, Karremans intervened in Nexperia under a national security law that allows the economic affairs ministry to block or reverse company decisions in exceptional cases. Karremans said the measure was taken to safeguard chip supplies for the Dutch and European industries.

Nexperia, based in Nijmegen, was taken over in 2019 by Chinese electronics firm Wingtech. It has a major production site in China, which makes around 50 billion chips a year.

Following the Dutch takeover, China imposed an export ban which means those chips can no longer leave the country and cutting off supplies to the European car industry.

One day later, Amsterdam’s company court suspended Zhang Xuezheng, the chief executive of Nexperia’s Chinese parent company Wingtech, from his role at Nexperia. All but one of the company’s shares were placed under the control of an independent administrator.

The ministry of economic affairs declined to comment further on the situation.