Foxconn to step up procurements from Hon Hai subsidiaries in 2008

Tier 1 EMS provider Foxconn said it would hold an interim shareholders conference in Shenzhen on Nov. 28 to discuss such topics as providing brand-new cellphone repair and maintenance services to customers, in addition to the increased procurements of supplies from Hon Hai subsidiaries. An institutional investor noted the strengthened cellphone supply chain within the Hon Hai Group will squeeze out the supply chain outside the group as the brand owners have decisive rights on the procurement of parts and components. Tung Wen-hsin, spokesperson for Foxconn, said the increased procurements would help Hon Hai Group vertically integrate the cellphone supply chain within the group. At present, Hon Hai Group has a 72.15% shareholding on Foxconn which is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Foxconn saw procurements of supplies from group subsidiaries account for 10.2%% of total sales in 2006, and the ratio reached 8.28% in the first half of this year. As Foxconn has stepped up procurements of cellphone components from its subsidiaries, domestic suppliers fear losing global competitiveness.