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01.20.2026

The Nexperia supply disruption has entered a more volatile phase. Entering January 2026, buyers are facing simultaneous pressure from unresolved legal disputes, constrained wafer supply, and shrinking alternate capacity — a combination that is accelerating allocation risk and reducing visibility across the first half of the year.

For customers dependent on Nexperia components, the challenge is no longer predicting when supply will normalize, but how to manage exposure as conditions continue to shift week by week.

Updated on January 20, 2026

January 2026 Update: Legal Dispute Moves to Court

On January 14, representatives from Nexperia Netherlands and Wingtech appeared in court in the Netherlands for an initial hearing related to the ongoing ownership and control dispute.

By multiple accounts, the meeting was tense, with both sides blaming the other for the current state of disruption. During the hearing, lawyers representing Nexperia EMEA accused Wingtech of pursuing a “scorched earth” strategy aimed at destabilizing the company. According to reporting from Courthouse News, Nexperia attorney Jeroen van der Schrieck stated that Wingtech is “doing everything to destabilize Nexperia” in its attempt to wrest control of the business.

The Dutch court is expected to decide by early February whether a full investigation is warranted — a decision that could further delay clarity for customers already facing unconfirmed orders and tightening availability.

 

Manufacturing and Wafer Supply Constraints Intensify

Legal uncertainty continues to be compounded by operational challenges:

However, sources indicate the Malaysia transition was rushed, and facilities are not yet able to absorb the added volume or product complexity. As a result, some customers are being advised that new Nexperia material may not be available until July 2026 or later, particularly for higher-risk legacy devices.

 

How the Nexperia Supply Chain Disruption Started

While January’s developments have intensified the situation, the roots of this disruption extend back further.

Nexperia is headquartered in the Netherlands but operates with significant manufacturing and wafer-sourcing ties to China following its acquisition by Wingtech. For years, this structure allowed Nexperia to function as a globally integrated supplier while maintaining European governance.

That balance began to erode in 2024 as regulatory scrutiny increased — particularly from Dutch authorities — around Chinese ownership of strategically important semiconductor assets. Concerns centered on governance, control, and national security implications.

As oversight increased, coordination between Nexperia’s Dutch operations and its Chinese ownership structure deteriorated. What began as a governance dispute gradually translated into operational disruption, culminating in the October halt of wafer supply into Nexperia China.

At the time, many customers assumed the issue would be resolved within months and secured limited coverage for late 2025 and early 2026. That assumption is now proving overly optimistic.

 

Buyer Response Shifts From Coverage to Risk Containment

As confidence in near-term recovery has faded, buyer behavior has shifted materially:

  • A growing number of OEMs are refusing to accept Nexperia components with COO China date codes 2542 and later, citing traceability, compliance, and long-term reliability concerns
  • In parts of Asia, some manufacturers are proceeding cautiously with these parts but internally classifying them as “risk components,” assigning new internal part numbers to preserve traceability

The automotive sector is already feeling the impact. Industry groups are warning that shortages tied to Nexperia — and its alternates — could persist well into 2026. Honda has extended production shutdowns in China and Japan due to component shortages linked to this disruption.

 

Nexperia Alternates Enter Allocation

Many buyers attempted to mitigate risk by qualifying alternate manufacturers, but demand has surged faster than expected:

  • Lead times for replacements from onsemi, Vishay, and Diodes Incorporated have extended significantly
  • Several alternate series have entered allocation, limiting late-stage sourcing flexibility
  • Customers that transitioned early to alternates are now reporting continued delivery delays into CQ2 and beyond

This second wave of constraint is tightening supply across both primary and alternate channels simultaneously.

 

Most Requested Nexperia Series (January 2026)

As availability narrows, demand has concentrated around a limited set of high-usage devices:

These series are seeing heightened pricing pressure and rapidly changing availability as buyers compete for limited supply.

 

Buyer Outlook: What to Expect Next

The Nexperia situation has evolved from a short-term governance issue into a structural supply-chain risk. With legal proceedings unresolved, wafer supply constrained, manufacturing transitions under strain, and alternates tightening, volatility is expected to continue through at least the first half of 2026.

For procurement teams reviewing spring and summer delivery schedules, the risk is immediate. Early engagement, diversified sourcing strategies, and continuous market monitoring remain critical as conditions continue to shift.

 

Stay Ahead of What Comes Next

As Nexperia’s supply chain continues to operate under structural constraints, early visibility and verified sourcing remain critical. Fusion Worldwide supports customers with authenticated Nexperia inventory and qualified alternates across key product families — helping mitigate risk before availability tightens again.

For a broader view on how leading organizations are preparing for disruptions like this more proactively, explore Fusion Worldwide’s Agentic AI Market Intelligence Report, which outlines how autonomous, data-driven intelligence is changing how supply risk is identified and managed.

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is Nexperia supply expected to improve in 2026?

Supply improvement in 2026 remains uncertain. While some buyers expected stabilization in early 2026, unresolved legal disputes, wafer supply gaps, and manufacturing constraints suggest continued volatility through at least the first half of the year. Even if governance issues progress, production recovery is unlikely to be immediate.

2. Does the January court case between Nexperia and Wingtech change near-term availability?

No. The January court proceedings between Nexperia and Wingtech primarily affect long-term governance and control. They do not restart wafer supply, accelerate manufacturing, or guarantee order confirmations. Buyers should not assume court outcomes will translate into near-term material flow.

3. Are approved Nexperia alternates still a reliable sourcing option?

Alternates are becoming increasingly constrained. As more customers shifted simultaneously to replacements, demand exceeded planned capacity, pushing many alternate series into allocation and extending lead times. Approval alone no longer guarantees availability, particularly for legacy discretes and logic devices.

4. Should buyers accept Nexperia parts with China COO date codes?

This depends on compliance requirements and risk tolerance. Some OEMs reject China COO material due to traceability or regulatory concerns, while others accept it but internally classify the parts as higher-risk inventory. The key consideration is long-term exposure, not just short-term availability.

5. Why are automotive programs more exposed to the Nexperia disruption?

Automotive programs rely heavily on legacy components, long validation cycles, and fixed BOMs. Even minor shortages can halt production, and mid-cycle part changes are difficult to execute. This makes both Nexperia shortages and alternate constraints more disruptive for automotive than other sectors.

6. What is the biggest sourcing mistake buyers are making right now?

The most common mistake is assuming the disruption will resolve before impacting their program. Buyers who delayed action in late 2025 are now re-entering the market under tighter availability and higher pricing. Preserving optionality early has proven more effective than reacting later.

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