In a Reuters news article this morning Sanyo has revealed that it will be starting production of digital cameras in China as early as next spring. Sanyo currently makes digital cameras in Japan, South Korea and Indonesia. Sanyo supplies its products to digital camera makers on an OEM basis and did not identify which firms products would be manufacturered in China.

Reuters article:

Sanyo to produce digital cameras in China

TOKYO, Nov 16 (Reuters) - Sanyo Electric Co Ltd, Japan's third-largest consumer electronics maker, said on Friday it plans to start production of digital cameras in China as early as next spring to cut costs and keep up with rising demand.

The company currently makes digital cameras in Japan, South Korea and Indonesia.

It plans to use some of its 28 Chinese joint ventures for digital camera production.

The company has yet to decide Chinese production volume but plans to boost its global output of digital cameras to an annual 10 million units in the year to March 2004, a Sanyo spokesman said.

Sanyo's global digital camera production is estimated at 5.4 million units in 2001/02, up from 3.24 million a year earlier, the spokesman said.

Sanyo supplies its products to digital camera makers on an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) basis. It did not identify those firms.

Global demand for digital cameras is estimated at 15.5 million to 18 million units in calendar 2001, up from 10.3 million a year earlier, and is expected to reach 20 million units in 2002, the spokesman said.

Shares in Sanyo closed the morning up 0.62 percent at 647 yen, while the benchmark Nikkei average rose 0.26 percent.