TOKYO – Japan produced 1.67 million yen worth of electronics in February, up 0.5% over last year, the Japan Electronics Industries Technologies Association reported. March exports were down 13.3% to 1.18 million yen, and are down 9% for the year. Components were down 14.6%, while consumer electronics were up 2%. Components make up more than 70% of the value of Japan’s electronics exports.
Japan imported 702,714 million yen worth of electronics products in February, the latest month for which data are available, down 5.3% from 2007. Consumer electronics imports were up 107%, but industrial electronics, computers and components were down 9.4%, 8.5% and 10%, respectively.
For the year, Japan has imported 1.49 million yen worth of electronics, down 2.6%. Overall production is up 1.1%.
JEITA is one of Japan’s largest electronic associations, with 525 member companies.
CHENGDU, CHINA -- Major electronics manufacturers escaped damage from the massive earthquake that rocked central China earlier this week. Among the major companies issuing statements, it appears the worst of the damage amounted to a few fallen ceiling tiles.
LONDON – TT Electronics said its first-half results will be down against last year as result of slow economic conditions in North America. The company left its 2008 full-year guidance unchanged.
The company, which supplies EMS services and sensors, said in a published statement, “Although results for the first half will be lower than in the corresponding period in 2007, the board's outlook for the current financial year as a whole is unchanged from that communicated in our recent preliminary results announcement."
Overall, the company sees similar market conditions to 2007, North America notwithstanding.
The firm said it would continue to move production offshore, and would report losses in the first-half brought on by one-time transfer and reorganization costs.
BOSTON – Global first-quarter service provider switching and routing equipment sales grew to $3.1 billion overall, a 25% increase compared to a year ago, research firm Ovum RHK said.