Japan's Murata sees partial restart of quake-hit factories (updated)

Murata Manufacturing Co

18/03/2022 02:25

(Adds Renesas, Sony)
    TOKYO, March 18 (Reuters) - Japan's Murata Manufacturing Co
Ltd  6981.T  said it plans to restart production on Friday at
two of four factories whose operations were halted following an
earthquake that jolted the country's northeast late on
Wednesday. 
    The disruption caused by the magnitude 7.4 temblor has shone
a spotlight on Japan's leading role in producing precision
components vital for electronics and autos production when
global supply chains are under COVID-19 pandemic related strain.
    Kyoto-based Murata, the top global supplier of ceramic
capacitors uses in smartphones and cars, said it aims to restart
production at two facilities in Fukushima prefecture. 
    The two other factories remain out of action, a company
spokesperson said, noting that a fire that broke out at a
factory in Tome in Miyagi prefecture which produces chip
inductors caused some damage to equipment.
    Automotive chipmaker Renesas Electronics Corp  6723.T  said
that a stop on two factories and a partial stop on a third
remained in place.
    Tech conglomerate Sony Group Corp  6758.T  is in the process
of gradually restarting production at two factories in Miyagi
prefecture and a third in Yamagata prefecture hit by the quake,
a spokesperson said. 
    There is some damage to the facility in Shiroishi, Miyagi
prefecture, producing laser diodes but the impact on production
is limited, Sony said.   
    


 (Reporting by Shinji Kitamura, Tim Kelly and Sam Nussey;
Editing by Stephen Coates and Edwina Gibbs)
 ((sam.nussey@tr.com;))