The impact of the global semiconductor shortage is becoming more serious.
In a survey conducted by NHK on 100 major domestic companies, nearly 60% of the companies answered that their businesses were affected by the shortage of semiconductors.
From the questionnaire, we can see that the impact is spreading to a wide range of industries other than the automobile industry and electrical equipment manufacturers.
From the 21st of last month to the 4th of this month, NHK conducted a survey of 100 major domestic companies and asked about the impact on the global semiconductor shortage business.
As a result,
20 companies were "affected
" and 37 companies were "slightly affected", and
nearly 60% of the companies answered that their business was affected.
30 companies
answered "no
impact
", 9 companies
answered "
others", and
4 companies answered "no answer".
When asked about the specific impact of 57 companies that answered "affected" or "slightly impacted" in multiple answers, the
most
common answer
was "difficulty in procuring parts using semiconductors" (45.6%) and
"semiconductors". 26.3% of the
respondents answered "
Increase in procurement price
" and 22.8% answered "Reduced production".
Most of the companies that responded that there was an impact were the automobile industry and electrical equipment manufacturers, but the transportation industry commented that "the amount of transportation decreased due to the decrease in automobile production," as well as information and communications and finance. , Manufacturers also answered that it is difficult to procure products using semiconductors, indicating that the impact of semiconductor shortages is spreading to a wide range of industries.
When asked how long the semiconductor shortage would continue,
10 companies were
in
"within 2021
", 13 companies were in "early
2022", 17 companies were in "late 2022
", 3 companies were "after 2023", and
"I don't know". Was 45 companies.
There is also growing concern among companies that the global semiconductor shortage will be prolonged.
Expanding demand due to corona damage Factory fire ... Supply cannot keep up
Semiconductors used in a wide range of products such as smartphones, automobiles, and home appliances, and are also called "industrial rice."
Demand for teleworking PCs and game consoles, which spread due to the corona disaster, and automobiles, whose sales have recovered rapidly in the United States, has increased, and there are also problems such as a fire at a factory of a major semiconductor manufacturer. Supply is unable to keep up with demand.
As a result, the automobile industry was unable to procure sufficient parts, and manufacturers such as Toyota, Nissan, and Honda were forced to cut production and suspend factory operations one after another.
The impact has spread to familiar home appliances, and some home appliance mass retailers are running out of products such as washing machines and telephones.
In addition, in information and communications, Rakuten Mobile has revealed that the expansion of the communication area will lag behind the originally stated target due to the lack of semiconductors used for base stations in the communication area with a communication standard of 4G. , The impact of semiconductor shortages is spreading to communication services.
Oxygen concentrator used for home medical treatment Partial production suspension
The impact is not only on automobiles and home appliances, but also on the suspension of some production of oxygen concentrators used for home recuperation of the new coronavirus.
The oxygen concentrator is used, for example, as a bridge to hospitalization when a person infected with the new coronavirus has difficulty breathing while undergoing medical treatment at home or at an accommodation facility.
A wave of semiconductor shortages is rushing to this device, which can be called a lifeline.
Fukuda Denshi, a major medical device manufacturer that has the second largest share of this device in Japan and produces more than 30%, has stopped some production since the middle of last month.
The cause is that there is a shortage of semiconductors called "microcomputers", and it is not possible to produce sensors that measure the concentration and amount of oxygen.
The microcomputer of this company is imported from the United States, but it is said that it has become difficult to procure it since around spring.
The background is believed to be fierce competition for other electronic devices such as automobiles and home appliances.
In addition to changing the source of semiconductors, the company is asking hospitals and local governments to postpone major parts replacement.
Toyoharu Kanda, General Manager of Production Division of Fukuda Denshi, said, "I want to deliver the product because it is life-threatening for patients, but I am in great trouble because I cannot produce it smoothly."
Expert "Is the shortage peak from autumn to the end of the year?"
Akira Minamikawa, senior director of British research firm OMDIA, who is familiar with the trends in the semiconductor market, said, "Semiconductors are used in everything called electronic devices and are spreading to every corner of our lives, so the impact of semiconductor shortages is It happens in a fairly wide area. I think the peak of the shortage is from this fall to the end of the year. "
On top of that, "Semiconductor manufacturers are now making huge capital investments, so it is expected that the shortage of semiconductors for automobiles will gradually improve. However, toward carbon neutrality, which will reduce carbon dioxide emissions to virtually zero. Investment is about to be made all over the world, and there is a possibility that demand for semiconductors beyond our imagination will be created for wind power generation, solar power generation, EV conversion of cars, etc. If that happens, there will be a shortage of semiconductors even in the second half of next year. May continue. "
"The shortage of semiconductors may affect the progress of national policies such as carbon neutrality and the spread of 5G, but a large amount of funds will be required for capital investment to increase production capacity. Tax system It may be necessary to take national measures such as the above preferential treatment. "