Japan’s electronics maker Sharp is planning to shift production of personal computers from China to Vietnam for shipment to the United States, NHK reported.
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The move comes amid intensifying trade friction between Washington and Beijing.
According to NHK, Sharp plans to temporarily move its PC production to Taiwan (China) before switching manufacturing to a new plant in Vietnam that is expected to start operation after October.
The company initially planned to make electronic components at the Vietnam factory. But it apparently changed the goods that would be produced in light of the continuing US-China trade friction.
Sharp is also considering shifting the production of multi-function office equipment shipped to the US from China to Thailand.
Mexico has also been under consideration as the company's new manufacturing base for electronic blackboards that use liquid crystal panels. But the company is now reviewing its plan as the administration of US President Donald Trump threatens to slap tariffs on Mexico.
Recently, a number of leading global electronics producers have targeted Vietnam as possible destination for the relocation of their current production plans, including South Korea’s LG Electronics, Taiwanese tech-firm ASUS and China’s Lenovo.
In the January – May period, foreign investors committed to pour US$16.74 billion into Vietnam, marking a four-year high and up 69.1% year-on-year, stated the Ministry of Planning and Investment.
Disbursement of FDI projects jumped to US$7.3 billion during the period, representing an increase of 7.8% year-on-year.
Investors have invested in 19 fields and sectors, in which manufacturing and processing continued to attract substantial attention with investment capital of US$12 billion, accounting for 71.8% of total FDI approvals.
