Sony Corp., Japan’s largest exporter of consumer electronics, halted factories that make televisions and cameras, citing difficulties procuring components and materials following the March 11 earthquake.

The company suspended operations at 5 plants in central and southern Japan, including in the Aichi and Oita prefectures, starting Tuesday until the end of this month, the Tokyo-based electronics maker said in a statement. The factories make liquid-crystal display TVs, camcorders, cameras, mobile phones, headphones and broadcasting equipment, it said.

The move increases the number of Sony’s plant closures to 12 after the company halted operations at factories that make products ranging from Blu-ray discs to semiconductor lasers since the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan. The electronics maker said it may shift some production overseas if shortages of parts and materials persist.

Atul Goyal, a senior analyst at CLSA Asia-Pacific Markets in Singapore, said last week Sony’s operating profit for the 12 months ending March 31 may be 230 billion yen, or about 7 percent lower than he earlier estimated. He cut his forecast for the following year by 10 percent. 

(Bloomberg)