Business

Despite investing heavily in expanding the electricity grid, Enexis reports that waiting lists for new connections continue to rise. Recent regulatory changes mean households, small businesses, and charging stations are no longer guaranteed capacity, leading to a surge in applications and growing uncertainty across the regions Enexis serves.

Consumers in the Netherlands will face smaller and pricier fruit this autumn as drought across Europe reduces harvest volumes. Despite good flavour quality from high sugar levels, growers warn of hail damage, water shortages, and crop‑cooling challenges that could make 2026 a financially difficult year for many.

KLM’s quarterly profit has improved, yet the airline says its financial performance is still not strong enough. CEO Marjan Rintel plans to continue cost‑saving measures while demand for cargo and holiday travel remains high. Meanwhile, Air France‑KLM will cut flights later this year due to soaring fuel prices, affecting short‑ and medium‑haul routes across Europe.

Eindhoven chip manufacturer NXP Semiconductors reported a 19 percent year-on-year revenue increase to $3.5 billion for the second quarter, while net profit rose 33 percent to $918 million. Growth was led by a 41 percent jump in its communication infrastructure segment and a 12 percent rise in automotive chips, driven by expanding artificial intelligence applications in physical devices. NXP forecasts third-quarter revenue growth between 15 and 21 percent.

Johnson & Johnson proposed a $5.5 billion settlement to resolve around 76,000 lawsuits claiming its talc products caused ovarian cancer. The deal requires 95 percent approval from US plaintiffs to take effect and follows J&J's decision to phase out talc baby powder globally in favor of cornstarch-based alternatives. The proposed agreement comes after a judge blocked J&J's earlier attempt to settle the claims through subsidiary bankruptcy.

Pathé is expanding its IMAX schedule for The Odyssey with extra night and morning screenings. Cinemas in Amsterdam and Rotterdam are adding early and late showings to meet strong demand. The film stars Matt Damon, Tom Holland and Anne Hathaway.

Signify’s second‑quarter revenue and profit declined, driven by weaker European demand and higher restructuring costs. The company is shifting investment toward smart lighting and consumer products while maintaining its full‑year outlook.

Rotterdam’s port is exporting more empty containers, a sign of growing dependence on Asian imports, says CEO Boudewijn Siemons. Container volumes dipped slightly, while imports from Asia increased by 8 percent.