Fridges, microwaves fall prey to global chip shortage

FILE PHOTO: A Whirlpool French Door refrigerator is shown during the 2016 CES trade show in Las Vegas, Nevada January 8, 2016. REUTERS/Steve Marcus/File Photo

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - A global shortage of chips that has rattled production lines at car companies and squeezed stockpiles at gadget makers, is now leaving home appliance makers unable to meet demand, according to the president of Whirlpool Corp in China.

The U.S. based company, one of the world's largest white goods firm, is falling behind on exports to Europe and the United States from China, by as much as 25% on some months, Jason Ai told Reuters in Shanghai.