International flash memory prices have skyrocketed by nearly 20%

According to Xinhua News Agency, although the tsunami caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake arrived on the west coast of the United States, it has not been able to stifle big waves; but the Japanese earthquake may actually impact the new iPad 2 that Apple has just listed on the United States.

The technologist dismantling the iPad2 found that except for the NAND flash memory from Toshiba Corp. of Japan, the battery management chip came from Japan Seiko Co., Ltd. and the communication part came from Murata Manufacturing Co., Japan. The major factories of the above three companies are currently under suspension or semi-cessation due to the earthquake. NAND flash is an integral part of the iPhone 4 and iPad 2. After the earthquake, the price of memory chips in the international market has increased by nearly 10%, and the flash memory price has soared by nearly 20%.

Japan’s position in the global high-end manufacturing industry is extremely important. Boeing's latest 787 passenger jets account for 35% of spare parts, 10% of Volvo's spare parts, and 14% of US car dealers' parts are all purchased from Japan. Ford's latest hybrid car, the battery relies entirely on Japan's Sanyo Electric.

According to the latest statement from Ford and Boeing, the current spare parts supply is not a problem, but it will not be known in a few weeks. The latest report issued by the market research institute IHS stated that the Japanese manufacturing industry that suffered earthquake damage was very special and could not be replaced by other manufacturers. As a result, the output of many automakers may have recently declined.