The Thai flooding created significant shortages in the hard disk drive market that generated millions of dollars of losses for well-known electronics manufacturers.

FORBES: Supply Chain Risk a Hidden Liability for Many Companies

Electronics leader Hitachi will be watching carefully, as the mooted disk drive deal, as well as Panasonic 's pending takeover of Sanyo, threaten to take away from its market share.

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From January to August this year, Singapore's electronics sector output grew an impressive 22%--even as disk drive production was falling.

CNN: ASIANOW - Asiaweek | Business | Short Circuits

Setting the stage for further consolidation in Japan's electronics sector, Toshiba is in talks to buy Fujitsu 's hard-disk drive unit.

FORBES: Magazine Article