Sony Group has shifted the production line of cameras sold by the company in Japan, Europe and the United States from China to Thailand. Sony’s move is to protect its supply chain by reducing its dependence on China.
After heightened tensions between China and the United States, Sony first shifted production lines for cameras destined for the U.S., followed by the transfer of production bases for cameras destined for Japan and Europe at the end of 2022.
Now Sony’s factory in China only produces products for the Chinese market in principle, but some equipment will be reserved so that it can be supplied outside China in emergency situations such as disasters.
Sony Corp. said the risks of China being at the heart of global supply chains are rising. To avoid supply chain dysfunction, companies are taking countermeasures.
Data show that Sony will sell about 2.11 million cameras worldwide in 2022, of which only 150,000 are for China, and more than 90% of the remaining products are sold to other places outside China.