According to the manufacturing/shipment value for rubber products between January and December 2014 reported by Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the shipment value was 2 trillion 347 billion 974 million yen, increased by 3.0% compared with the same month last year.
During the first half of the year (Jan – June), automotive tires, which are main products, remain strong especially in trucks and buses area. Rubber hoses, industrial rubber products, sporting articles also achieved some increases. In addition, the impact from the consumption tax increase remained at minimum. As a result, shipment value increased by 6.5% compared to the same month last year.
Although growth in automotive tires slowed down in July, the shipment value of rubber products overall from January to September increased by 4.2%, higher than the previous year’s result. October also achieved high growth of 9.6%, however, the value decreased in November, making it 2.9% decrease compared to the same month last year. In December the value increased back to 188 billion 534 million yen, an increase of 1.2% compared to the same month last year.
By item, the number of automotive tires produced between January and December was 161,130,000, an increase of 0.5% compared to the same month last year. The shipment value was 1 trillion 310 billion 252 million yen, an increase of 3.4% compared to the same month last year.
Since July, actual performance in automobile production has been fallen below the last year’s performance. However, both production volume and shipment value in automobile tires exceeded last year’s performance thank to excellent performance during the first half, increase of market sales, and stock balance and so on.
The number of tires produced in December, however, was 12,930,000, decreased by 4.2% compared to the same month last year. The shipment value was 101 billion 474 million yen, increased by 1.1% compared to the same month last year.
Production volume for rubber belts between January and December was 26,118 tons, decreased by 9.8% compared to the same month last year, and the shipment value was 73 billion 970 million yen, remained the same with the same month last year.
Domestic demand was backed up by restoration demands such as resuming coal-fired steam plant operation and infrastructure construction, as well as public project increase including demand in building materials for city redevelopment. On the other hand, export had a major fall in overall production volume throughout the year due to inventory adjustment in resource-rich countries and so on.
However, it showed some recovery in December with the production volume of 2,287 tons, increased by 5.0% compared to the same month last year, and the shipment value of 7 billion 110 million yen, increased by 7.1% compared to the same month last year.
The conveyor belts, which are the main products, fell below the previous year’s performance in both production volume and shipment value throughout the year. While toothed belts had a slight decrease in production volume, their shipment value has actually increased. As for other rubber belts, while their production volume increased, their shipment value remained the same.
However, in December conveyor belts showed strong growth in both production volume and shipment value thanks to positive domestic demand and significant improvement in exporting. Although production volume decreased, toothed belts increased their shipment value. Other rubber belts showed decrease in both production volume and shipment value.
Production volume for rubber hoses between January and December was 35,599 tons, increased by 0.8% compared to the same month last year. The shipment value was 137 billion 805 million yen, increased by 0.9%. Shipment value in December was 2,904 tons, decreased by 0.4%, and shipment value was 11 billion 450 million yen, increased by 1.1%.
Production volume for industrial rubber products between January and December was 178,365 tons, increased by 1.4% compared to the same month last year. Shipment value was 673 billion 329 million yen, increased by 2.5%. For which, shipment value in December was 14,292 tons, decreased by 1.6%, and shipment value was 55 billion 581 million yen, increased by 0.6%.