The global chip pool has been muddy enough, but now the Netherlands has jumped out to stir it up and directly took over Nexperia, a subsidiary of a Chinese company. This chip factory is a big player in automotive electronics. China did not give in at all and directly blocked exports. Nexperia also announced that it would not buy goods from Chinese factories.
It just happened that the European Union came to join in the fun. On October 23rd, it just passed the 19th round of sanctions against Russia, blacklisting several Chinese oil companies. This is not just a trade friction, it is simply pinching the supply chain to death. European car companies are now scratching their heads with worry.
Anshi Semiconductor is no small player. After being wholly purchased by China Wentai Technology in 2019, it became a major player in global power semiconductors, especially in the automotive chip field, accounting for more than a quarter of the total.
Headquartered in Nimwegen, the Netherlands, it has more than 20,000 employees around the world. The factories are scattered in Germany, Malaysia, Thailand and Dongguan, China. The Dongguan factory covers an area of more than 80,000 square meters and is the main force of packaging testing, contributing 35% of the production capacity. Hundreds of billions of chips are spat out every year and used in electric vehicle inverters and brake systems. Simply put, without them, European car companies 'electric vehicles would have to be put to rest.
The Government of the Netherlands, which officially acted on October 12, used the Goods Supply Law of the Cold War period to directly freeze all assets, intellectual property and operations of Anselm Semiconductor, freeze for a year, and also manage more than thirty subsidiaries. the order signed by the Minister of Economy Vincent Carrémans, appointed a temporary team to take over the board of directors, suspended the position of Chinese CEO Zhang Sheng, and closed the server.
This method was finally used during the oil crisis of the 1980s, and now it is clearly threatened by national security.The Netherlands says it is concerned about the outflow of technology, especially the sensitive goods of semiconductors.
As early as December 2024, they talked to Anshi Semiconductor's management, focusing on the governance structure and shareholder control, and demanding additional local supervision to prevent China shareholders from interfering in strategic decisions. After half a year of talks, the talks collapsed in July 2025. At the end of September, the intelligence agency reported that Anshi Semiconductor might move its production line to Asia, which caused an explosion.
Since the export of ASML lithography machines to China was restricted, the Netherlands has been in tune with the United States. ASML, the world's high-end chips are inseparable, China can't buy it, and the Netherlands itself has to weigh it. ANSE Semiconductor was taken over. CNN reported that it was the result of pressure from Washington. The Netherlands, a small export-oriented country with semiconductors accounting for more than 30% of GDP, was sandwiched between China and the United States and chose sides. What happened? The global car chain immediately shook three times.
On October 2, the European Automobile Manufacturers Association held an emergency meeting in Brussels, warning that production could drop by 4.5%, losing 15 billion euros. Volkswagen, BMW, Mercedes were in panic, Volkswagen's electric vehicle modules were delayed for a week, and the BMW X5 brake unit lacked 100,000 units. Mercedes-Benz Stuttgart plant stopped three lines on October 3, Renault said spare suppliers couldn't keep up, cost increased by 15%. Even Philips medical equipment lacked diodes, the Asma Motor lacked uranium nitrogen, Winnink said in the financial meeting that the quarter spent more than 20 million euros.
China's side reacted very quickly, the Ministry of Commerce announced on October 4 that China's subsidiaries and downstream suppliers exported specific power semiconductor components, such as MOSFET and IGBT modules, with an annual trade amount of EUR 2 billion, the review period stretched to 120 days. Dongguan factory capital chain broke, monthly procurement budget fell to zero, inventory remained for two weeks, engineers equipment maintenance delays, utilization rate dropped from 95% to 70%.
On October 5, the factory notified employees to give priority to local orders and stop uploading Dutch data. The internal audit said that 60% of wafers purchased from China before the freeze were now zero.
On October 9, the Ministry of Commerce of rare earth, uranium, uranium, uranium and other seven elements, export licensing system, China's global output of 80%, Anselm semiconductor for three years imported 500 tons, German plant inventory at the end of November, Malaysia tried to buy from Australia, expensive 30%, cycle more than four months.
On October 11, the temporary team wanted to remotely enter Dongguan servers and was blocked by China's cybersecurity law. Wages were extended for a week, unions protested and hundreds asked for contract clarification. On October 12, the Dutch Ministry of Economy's conference, Carlemans reiterated the need, but didn't talk about the supply chain.
The International Semiconductor Association approved in Geneva, which violated market rules and could lead to a chain reaction. On October 13, the Skoda Czech plant stopped for two days, losing €1.2 million; Fiat recalled a 5% increase in risk. EU Industry Commissioner Bretton spoke with the Netherlands on October 14 and failed to coordinate.
The Economist said on October 16 that the Netherlands is targeting China and actually harming European competitiveness. Reuters investigated that 80 percent of Anselm Semiconductor customers are European car companies, which could push them to go to Taiwan for electricity or Infineon.
The Goods Supply Law was challenged, and the Anselm Semiconductor Legal Team appealed to the Rotterdam Court on October 18th, and the European Union Anti-Monopoly Commission on November 15th also investigated, assessing distortion of competition. By October 19th, Anselm Semiconductor revenue forecasts fell 12%, the automotive business fell from 45% to 38%, and the Dutch semiconductor orders fell by 7%.
Nexperia issued a statement on October 21 to stop buying wafers and packaging from Chinese factories and transfer them to Malaysia and Germany. The cost increased by 18% and the new product was postponed by two months. Internal documents say that logistics is 30 million euros more. The company says it maintains continuity, but this step is obviously forced by Chinese control.
The Dutch Minister of Economy said on October 19th that he would meet Chinese officials within a few days to solve the control. On October 23, Nexperia's Chinese unit resumed supplying local distributors, two insiders said, but it was still stuck overseas. The subsidiary declared independence and decoupled from the Dutch parent company. Employees can still use the platform to receive salary, but operate independently.
This chain reaction, the automotive industry is the worst. On October 22, Volkswagen warned of a temporary shutdown of production, China stopped the delivery of ANSI semiconductor chips, German factories worried supply. Volvo, VW, Nissan full list, supply chain interruption risk is high. Nikkei said that the new China exports limited car chip parts, the Netherlands took over trigger. Z2Data explained that ANSI semiconductor into BIS entity list, China regulation, global chain crisis. European car companies rely more on China, ANSI semiconductor this is fresh evidence, DW, the chip warning increased supply pain.
On October 23, the European Union approved the 19th round of sanctions against Russia, a total ban on Russian LNG from 2027, and also pulled two Chinese refineries, a Hong Kong oil trade blacklist, annual production capacity of 600,000 barrels / day, exports to the EU 30%, revenue is expected to fall 40%.
China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the EU has listed China companies and warned not to go the wrong way. The EU said Russia circumvented the path but ignored normal business in China. The Global Times mentioned on July 18 that two China financial institutions have been added in the 18 rounds, and now the 19 rounds continue.
The sanctions linked to Anselm Semiconductor affairs, China-Europe friction escalation. Von der Leyen stressed on Twitter, but analysts said that damaging the normal activities of Chinese enterprises. Manufactured enterprises, one refinery 5 million tons a year, European revenue sharply decreased. Energy prices may shake 5%, Chinese enterprises accelerate multiple markets. Dutch enterprises long-term losses, semiconductor exports estimated to decline 15%, cars need several months to recover.