Fujitsu Ltd. will suspend production of semiconductors at its three mainstay factories for five days this month to reduce inventories in response to slack demand, a company official said Wednesday.
The stoppage at the plants in Iwate, Fukushima and Mie prefectures represents a temporary halt in production of all Fujitsu semiconductor products except flash memory chips, the official said.
She said the company has not set the specific dates of the output suspension.
Semiconductor prices and demand for them have been declining steadily, especially for those used in personal computers and electrical home appliances, the official said.
The suspension will reduce Fujitsu's factory operation rates in the semiconductor division to less than 50 percent in October, down from September's 60 percent to 70 percent, she said.
NEC Corp. has already taken a similar step by halting its assembly line for microprocessors in Kumamoto Prefecture for six days through Wednesday.
NEC is also halting output of semiconductors at three other factories -- in Fukuoka, Oita and Kumamoto prefectures -- for four days through Friday.
The suspension at the four factories will affect 2,700 workers, who will receive 80 percent of their regular paychecks, NEC officials said.