Will Laptops and PCs Be Supplied During the School Opening Season?... PC Industry Also Busy Due to New Coronavirus

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] The domestic PC industry, which had to halt factories in China due to the coronavirus infection (Wuhan pneumonia), is busily responding to the increasing demand for laptops and PC products with the new semester season approaching.

According to the PC industry on the 9th, they are preparing for the situation after the extended forced closure of factories during the Spring Festival (Chinese New Year) due to the spread of the novel coronavirus ends and factories resume operation on the 10th.

Typically, the first quarter, which is the graduation and school opening season, sees an increase in demand for PCs and laptops, leading to higher sales and is considered a seasonal peak. However, there are concerns that supply may not meet demand due to production disruptions in China caused by the novel coronavirus.

Because of this, the industry is continuously monitoring product processes, material supply, and logistics systems. Samsung Electronics, which has a laptop factory in Suzhou, China, plans to resume factory operations on the 10th but is on high alert, maintaining close contact with authorities and preparing countermeasures due to the unpredictable local situation.

LG Electronics, which has production factories for laptops and others in Nanjing, has also established internal policies related to factory resumption starting from the 10th. LG Electronics plans to allow only employees who have stayed in the local legal area for more than two weeks to come to work, mandates mask-wearing for those who come to work, and will frequently measure their body temperature. Employees showing symptoms such as coughing and fever will be prohibited from entering the workplace to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus among staff.

Although the Spring Festival holiday was extended by more than 10 days due to the novel coronavirus, it is known that domestic supply has been maintained with pre-produced PC and laptop inventory. Typically, inventory sufficient for 2 to 3 weeks of production is prepared ahead of the Spring Festival.

However, as the pre-stocked PC component inventory is being depleted, there is a possibility that if the situation in China worsens, production of PC products could face disruptions.

Furthermore, if a confirmed case of the novel coronavirus occurs among employees while the factory is operating, production may be halted for disinfection, causing production delays.

Additionally, the possibility of local governments resuming or extending holidays and logistics system paralysis due to city or road lockdowns even if factories operate are major variables. Previously, the Chinese government began closed management of 12 cities, including Wuhan, the source of the novel coronavirus, where the number of infected people is increasing. On the 4th of this month, emergency measures were also taken by locking down some cities in Zhejiang Province, China.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.