Last October, Nikon confirmed that its factory in Thailand, which produces most of the firm's consumer and advanced digital SLRs, was shut down as a result of the country's worst floods in 50 years.

Now, the firm estimates that it will be able to resume its operations in January 2012. "Water pumping-out by the Rojana Industrial Park authority around Nikon Thailand has completed on 26 November," says Nikon in a statement. "Following this development, we are putting all our energy into restoring infrastructure and production equipment of the factory aiming for some part of factory operation to resume from January 2012."

However, Nikon adds that alternative and limited production at partner factories in Thailand "has started earlier than expected, and we have started shipment of certain digital SLR cameras and interchangeable lenses since 30 November."

Nikon now plans to resume full production of DSLRs and interchangeable lenses by the end of March 2012. However, Nikon expects that the flood will "push down net sales by 65 billion yen and operational income by 25 billion yen due to sales opportunity loss."

Visit www.nikon.co.uk.