Sony Semiconductor Solutions said inspections found no major cleanroom damage at the Kumamoto site, supporting a phased restart from Aug. 4 and a return to pre-earthquake output by mid-August.
Sony Semiconductor Solutions said it will gradually resume operations at its Kumamoto Technology Center in Kikuyo, Kumamoto Prefecture, from Aug. 4 after suspending production following the July 28 earthquake, with output expected to return to pre-quake levels by mid-August. The company said safety inspections and damage assessments found some building damage and water leaks, but no major damage to the cleanroom that houses core semiconductor manufacturing equipment and no serious damage to finished goods or work in progress. The Kumamoto site is a key base for Sony's semiconductor business, producing CMOS image sensors used in smartphones and digital cameras. The restart timeline suggests the disruption may be contained, easing concerns about broader supply effects for device makers in Japan and overseas after the quake, which reached a maximum seismic intensity of lower 5 in Kumamoto Prefecture. Sony Semiconductor Solutions said it will continue to prioritize safety and work toward an early full recovery.