South Korea's largest electronics parts maker, Samsung Electro-Mechanics, said on July 6 that it would move all its camera module production lines for mobile handsets to China this year. Samsung Electro-Mechanics, a sister firm of Samsung Electronics, said the relocation was designed to cut costs and meet rising demand from clients in the Chinese market.
"The relocation is already underway. We will complete it in the third quarter of this year," a spokeswoman told AFP. "It is in line with our efforts to strengthen our competitiveness and also to meet growing demand from our clients including Motorola in China," she said.
The company already produces 70 percent of its camera modules at its Chinese plant in Tianjin, she said, adding that major mobile phone makers were rushing to open production plants in China.