The latest statistics released by the Japan Camera and Imaging Products Association (CIPA) pointed out that due to factors such as chip shortages, global digital camera shipments in May 2022 (equal to Japanese factory shipments) decreased by 10.4% (637,000 units) compared with the same month last year. This is the 10th consecutive month that it will be having a decrease. Furthermore, this is the 18th consecutive month that monthly shipments were less than one million units.
Global digital camera shipments surged 47.4% year-on-year to 62.185 billion yen ($458 million) in May. This is the second consecutive month of growth. In terms of regional shipments, Japan’s digital camera shipments in May decreased by 10.1% from the same month last year to 69,000 units. The shipments surged by 84.9% to 5.434 billion yen ($40 million).
Gizchina News of the week
During the cumulative period from January to May 2022, global digital camera shipments dropped by 22.3% to 2.804 million units compared with the same period last year, and shipments increased by 8.8% compared with the same period last year to 219.485 billion yen ($1.6 billion). Global digital camera production in May decreased by 7.9% year-on-year to 641,000 units. In addition, the production during the January-May period dropped by 21.6% year-on-year to 2.79 million units.
U.S. & Asian chip makers issue warning
The U.S. and Asian chip makers warn that if Washington fails to pass the $52 billion CHIPS for America Act, they will have to delay or reduce U.S. investment plans. Nikkei Asian Review reports that Intel had indefinitely delayed the $20 billion chip factory in Ohio. The company blames the delay on the chip bill. The plant was originally scheduled to hold a groundbreaking ceremony on July 22. Intel claims it still intends to build a factory in Ohio, but that “the chip bill is moving slower than expectation…”
Supporters hope the US Congress will pass the revised version in July. If there is still no result before the August adjournment, there may be more obstacles ahead.
