Most importantly, the structural decline of Japan's consumer electronics industry started around the time of the Kobe earthquake, yet it clearly would be absurd to attribute any form of causality.

Economists say the Japan quake and the ensuing tsunami are likely to have longer term ripple effects around the world, disrupting auto imports and technology products from Japan.

As it is located in the region strongly hit by the earthquake, the factory immediately came to a halt and currently remains out of operation.