Sources at PC distributors indicate that the China government has enacted stricter customs checks prior to the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, resulting in longer transportation times for shipped IT products and components in the region, especially in Northern and central China. But for other IT products such as LCD panels and components, makers say they have seen no impact at all.

The sources at PC distributors indicated that the China government has assigned an additional 80,000 customs officials to carry out the checks. All imported goods have to undergo thorough inspections, and policies are getting even stricter especially since a recent bus blast incident in Kunming.

Import and exports have been put on hold in some areas such as Northern China as priority is being reserved for products related to the games. This has led to a jam for other imported shipments. Some imported goods are being delayed by at least three days, the PC distributors said.

Some companies have been forced to export goods from Southern China, but still, many of these goods are being held up at transfer spots such as Hong Kong due a slow declaration processes, the PC distributors said.

Some motherboard and PC vendors in Taiwan commented that the impact they are seeing is not significant as they were well-prepared for the change in procedures.

Sources at leading panel makers including AU Optronics (AUO), Chi Mei Optoelectronics (CMO) and Chunghwa Picture Tubes (CPT), admitted seeing stricter custom checks especially in cities such as Tianjing and Beijing. But the panel makers noted that express deliveries rather than bulk shipments are being affected. They stressed that their shipments are not being affected by the checks as their LCD panel module (LCM) plants are not located in Beijing and because they have made other arrangements to ensure smooth deliveries.

Component makers from Taiwan also claimed they are not being affected. Foxconn Electronics (Hon Hai Precision Industry) indicated that it has not heard anything about a new policy in Hong Kong. The company executives said shipments via Hong Kong and in-bound deliveries in China have not encountered any difficulties at all.

Leading power supply maker Delta Electronics also said the company has not seen any changes in Hong Kong prior to the games.

Sources at some battery module makers and connector makers all indicated that no impact has been seen on their shipments, though some admitted hearing rumors about the stricter custom checks.