US terror attacks disrupt chip imports

Intel security 'beefed up'

As the reality of yesterday's terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre in New York starts to sink in, fears are being raised over its effect on business.

In the computer industry, OEMs worldwide face huge losses if US flights - used to transport PCs, chips and other electronic components, do not return to normal this week, Reuters reports, via SBN.

US authorities have cancelled all flights in the wake of the attack, in which thousands of people are feared dead after two hijacked planes crashed into and destroyed the two towers of the World Trade Centre.

On top of the human loss of life, the tragedy will affect all products shipped by air, including PC-related goods, to and from the US.

Electronics equipment makers are heavily reliant on air transport to shift products around the world.

It is too early to predict the knock-on effect on countries such as Taiwan, the biggest producer of notebooks and other IT-related products. Yesterday Taiwanese officials said they had no idea when cargo flights to and from the US would resume.

Meanwhile, California-based National Semiconductor has suspended all shipments coming in and out of the US by air indefinitely, SBN reports.

An AMD representative said disruptions were expected. "A lot of our products are shipped by air. If they have grounded all flights, then clearly we will have some impact," he said, adding "everyone's in the same boat."

Intel said it was too early to comment, but the chip giant confirmed it had "beefed up" its security. ®

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US terrorist attacks cause chip industry to tighten security
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