Table 1 Specific important goods Japan’s import partner country breakdown
Daikin and LIXIL: break away from dependence on China!
– IBIDEN, Shinko Electric, Nippon Tungsten, and Tamura Seisakusho –
– Review of procurement network for specific important materials, semiconductors, etc. –
Report from an analysis article on Newswitch
Preparing for the semiconductor supply chain:
Due to China risks such as the US-China confrontation and the Taiwanese emergency, the strengthening of domestic production and the diversification of procurement sources are spreading.
Hurry up to build a production system and supply chain (supply network) that does not depend on China.
Preparing for the semiconductor supply network
From the perspective of economic security, the Japanese government is preparing for the semiconductor supply network, which is designated as “specially important materials.”
IBIDEN President Takeshi Aoki:
Strengthen domestic production in Japan with government support. Aiming to start operations during the fiscal year ending March 2026.
The Ohno Plant receives a subsidy of 40.5 billion yen from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry to expand the production capacity of semiconductor-mounted substrates.
President Takeshi Aoki accepts that “the government wants to focus on semiconductor-related businesses.”
Susumu Kurashima, President of Shinko Electric Industries:
We have changed the source of some raw materials. We look not only at primary suppliers, but also raw materials.
Review of Chinese imports of rare metals
Many of the rare metals that are essential to industry, such as those used in home appliances and automobiles, are imported from China.
Japan Tungsten:
We rely entirely on China for the raw material tungsten for our main products.
It will move to secure procurement routes from Europe and North America.
There is already a small amount of trading results on the European and American routes.
Mines in Europe and the US are closed, but will open in the worst case.
Masahiro Asada, President of Tamura Corporation:
He talks about the current situation of “de-dependence on China” as follows.
Customers in Europe and the United States are calling for the company to stop producing electronic components in China.
Tamura Corporation established a company in Romania in December 2010.
Lawn mowers and tool chargers that are produced in China will also be produced in Romania.
LIXIL President Kinya Seto:
Production of plumbing products for the US was shifted from China to Mexico.
This is because there is a possibility that the supply of parts will be delayed due to the confrontation between the United States and China.
Currently, more than 80% of the products are supplied from Mexico.
Promote in-house production of semiconductors and diversification of research destinations.
Masanori Sogo, President of Daikin Industries:
Construction of a robust supply network was set as a priority theme for the fiscal year ending March 2012.
Create multiple bases for parts procurement and air conditioning equipment production, and establish a backup system.
Positioning power semiconductors, magnets, and electromagnetic steel sheets as priority parts, we will thoroughly establish a system for stable procurement.
The company’s dependence on China is expected to decrease with the introduction of multiple routes for parts procurement.