Supply of crystals and filters hit by Japan quake

The average lead time for megahertz and kilohertz crystals rose to 12 weeks in April - up 50% from eight weeks in March, as a result of the Japan earthquake, reports iSuppli.

The crystals, widely used in PCs and mobile phones, and shipping in 2bn a year quantities are likely to see price increases as a result.

"Because Japan is the world’s leading producer of crystals—major suppliers include Epson, NDK and Citizen—the quake crisis will cause pricing for crystals from major Japanese suppliers to climb during the next few weeks," says iSuppli’s Rick Pierson, "in fact, numerous Japanese crystal products are manufactured in factories located near the epicentre of the earthquake or are situated close to the coastal regions impacted by the tsunami."

Among the facilities damaged in the disaster is a supplier’s location in northern Japan that produces crystals for oscillator products. Damage was also sustained by two oscillator suppliers in Fukurawa and Kanagawa, as well as at NDK, which produces crystal oscillator products in its Furukawa, Osaki-city manufacturing site.

Status reports from one leading manufacturer of quartz crystals and oscillators that are sold in cylindrical, plastic, metal and ceramic packages show production has restarted at that manufacturer’s Yamanashi, Funehiki-cho, Tamura-shi and Fukushima-ken plants. However, aftershocks and recurring disruptions to the local power grid continue to delay the resumption of normal operations.

Japan’s production of high-end electromagnetic interference (EMI) filters also has been impacted by the disaster, delaying delivery of these parts. Such filters are used for noise suppression and are utilised in high-end electronic products, including top-of-the-line smart phones and cell phones.

One supplier in Miyagi prefecture confirmed that the quake has affected a factory that manufactures wire wound filters, which will have an impact on shipments after April