Samsung Secures Emergency Supplies of Restricted Japanese Materials
15 July, 2019
Samsung chief Lee Jae-yong on Saturday called an emergency meeting of top executives to tell them to prepare for the impact of Japanese curbs on exports of high-tech materials to Korea.
Samsung is hoping to diversify the sources of the materials from Japan to Russia, China and Taiwan while preparing to produce its own.
Lee called the meeting after a flying visit to Japan to gauge the atmosphere there.
Lee flew to Japan on July 7, when Japan's export restrictions took effect. Japan began restricting exports of photoresist used to manufacture semiconductors, as well as fluorinated polyimide and high-purity hydrogen fluoride used for smartphone displays.
Lee met with Japanese suppliers and bankers during his six-day trip. Samsung has been desperately trying to secure supplies of hydrogen fluoride and is expected to be able to continue production using its stockpiles.
One industry insider said, "I believe Samsung is cobbling together whatever supplies of materials it can get its hands on. But if the restrictions continue, it will become impossible to weather the storm for months at a time."
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