Japan and your supply chain, an update

Following the catastrophic events that have taken place recently in Japan, we’ve released another update on the latest developments that could affect your supply chain. While these events represent the most significant shock to the global electronics supply chain in recent memory, this impact is shaded substantially by the human cost.

Since we last blogged, this cost has rocketed. Today, more than 8,000 people have died in the disaster, thousands are injured and at least 12,000 are missing. Many people are living in evacuation centres as 14,000 homes have been destroyed and around 100,000 are damaged.

These are sobering thoughts to say the least. So, before we proceed with your electronics update, we’d like to point you in the direction of the Red Cross. If you’d like to help on a personal level, you can donate here.

Currently, the situation in Fukushima continues to be the main source of concern and we’ve seen the suspension of one-quarter of the global production of silicon wafers used to make semiconductors. Although the initial dust from the quake has now settled, the impact of these events, and the impact of how global players respond to these events, will ripple through the electronics supply chain for the remainder of this year and beyond.

For more information about the individual companies and facilities affected, please read our latest official update. Of course if you would like further information, please don’t hesitate to contact us.