A Japanese air-conditioning maker is planning on bringing home part of its production of air purifiers from China.
Officials at Daikin Industries say demand in Japan for the residential-use products is rising on the back of the coronavirus pandemic.
The company used to make them in its home market until 2008. All are now made in China.
The firm sold about 300,000 units in Japan in fiscal 2019. The figure is expected to grow to 550,000 for the current year through next March, as consumers spend more time inside their homes.
Daikin officials are considering their plant in Shiga Prefecture, western Japan, to take over production.
Demand for air purifiers is rising overseas as well. The firm plans to start making them in Malaysia from December.
The company hopes to double its global unit sales this fiscal year from the previous period to 780,000.
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20201006_17/