Pixiq

At the beginning of November Nikon issued a statement that estimated it would have pumped out all of the standing water from its flooded dSLR production plant in the Rojana Industrial Park in the Ayutthaya Province of Thailand. This morning, Nikon confirmed that all the water was pumped out by 26 November, and the company is now focusing its efforts on restoring the infrastructure and equipment, with a view to resuming operations at the factory from January next year.

Around 90% of Nikon's dSLR production took place in the Rojana plant, and in an attempt to meet at least some of the demand for these cameras, production was initiated in some of Nikon's other factories. The first of a limited shipment of interchangeable lens cameras and lenses was sent out yesterday (30 November 2011).

Nikon's original estimate that the flooding will have cost the company somewhere around ¥65 billion (£520 million) in lost sales and reduced its operational income by ¥25 billion (£200 million) still stands. If that's to change, there'll be another statement.

As for the resumption of normal dSLR and interchangeable lens production levels, that's anticipated for the end of March 2012. It might seem a long wait, but their predictions have been accurate so far.

More recent news...

1. A sparkling new Speedlight from Nikon (30 November 2011)
2. Where hypocrisy and stupid collide - trying to take photos at an event in London's Hyde Park (29 November 2011)
3. Little-ish gifts for photographers, seeing as the season is almost here (28 November 2011)
4. More resignations and now FBI-involvement at Olympus (27 November 2011)