Japan's Kumamoto Prefecture Hit by 7.1 Magnitude Earthquake: Will Semiconductors Be "Completely Devastated"?
On July 28, a powerful 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck Kumamoto Prefecture in Japan, directly hitting the country's semiconductor heartland.
Kumamoto is home to numerous semiconductor and related manufacturing facilities. Following the quake, major semiconductor companies operating in the region—including Sony, Renesas Electronics, Tokyo Electron, Mitsubishi Electric, and TSMC—announced immediate production halts.
The Kyushu region accounts for 56.3% of Japan’s total semiconductor output. While such high concentration enhances cluster effects, it also creates significant risks: once hit by natural disasters, the global supply chain could face a sudden "cardiac arrest."
Semiconductor factory recovery is extremely slow. After the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake, Sony’s factory took three months to resume operations—equipment calibration and cleanroom repairs were both lengthy processes. This latest quake may lead to short-term shortages of automotive-grade chips and image sensors, potentially driving up prices.
Previously, Japan offered massive subsidies to attract companies like TSMC, aiming to revive its semiconductor industry. But this earthquake has sounded a warning for Japan’s “semiconductor renaissance”: when pursuing economic security, geographical and geological safety must be non-negotiable prerequisites.
7.1 Magnitude Earthquake in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1872110815075460/
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