TAIPEI: Around 30 Taiwanese companies, many making parts for electronics, said yesterday that government Covid-19 control measures in eastern China had led them to suspend production until next week, as disruption from the measures spreads.

       China has put Shanghai under a tight lockdown since late March and neighbouring Kunshan has also tightened curbs to control the country’s biggest Covid-19 outbreak since the coronavirus was discovered in late 2019 in the city of Wuhan.

       Global companies, from mobile phone to chip makers, are highly dependent on China and South-East Asia for production and have been diversifying their supply chains after the pandemic caused havoc.

       The Taiwanese companies making announcements to the stock exchange included Asia Electronic Material Co Ltd, which makes parts for laptops, mobile phones and digital cameras.

       It said its plant in Kunshan would be closed until next Tuesday, adding it was “hard to estimate” the financial impact. — Reuters