Semiconductors▼impact 4
Japan 7.1 Earthquake Severely Impacts TSMC, Evacuates Staff, Toyota and Honda Halt Production
A powerful magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck southwestern Japan on Tuesday evening, July 28, prompting Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, the world's largest chipmaker, to evacuate all employees from its plant in Kumamoto Prefecture. Meanwhile, Honda Motor suspended operations at its Kumamoto factory, which produces automobiles and motorcycles, until Wednesday evening, July 29, and its subsidiary Astemo Uki halted production at a plant in the same prefecture, with several injuries reported. Toyota Motor Kyushu announced a temporary production suspension at all three of its plants in Fukuoka Prefecture for safety inspections, with plans to resume operations on Wednesday morning. Nippon Paper Industries disclosed that the chimney at its Yatsushiro plant in Kumamoto Prefecture suffered severe damage, with the upper section collapsing. Additionally, Kura Sushi closed six outlets in Kumamoto Prefecture, Seven-Eleven Japan shut some branches, Koikeya stopped production at its local plant, and transport companies including Sagawa Express, Yamato Transport, and Japan Post temporarily suspended parcel delivery services in Kumamoto Prefecture and some other areas.