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Nov. 26, 2009 (China Knowledge) - Japanese conglomerate Kyocera Corp has submitted application to shut down its handset plant in Tianjin, China, said the company spokesman.
Kyocera (Tianjin) Telecom Equipment Co, which was acquired from Sanyo Electric Co in 2008, mainly produces handsets targeting at North American markets. Kyocera's production base in Malaysia will take over the manufacturing task of Kyocera Tianjin to produce handsets for Sanyo Electric, while the production of handsets under Kyocera's own brand will be outsourced to other handset makers.
The close of the Tianjin plant will mark Kyocera's official withdrawal from China's mobile phone market. Kyocera is also the last Japanese mobile phone maker that keeps a business presence in China.
Reportedly, Kyocera will launch a solar energy project on the Tianjin site as part of the company's effort to expand its solar energy business in the country.
In the first half of this year, Kyocera posted losses of ¥7.50 billion in its mobile phone business, due to the decreasing demand amid the global financial crisis.
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