According to the production status for rubbers and resin conveyor belts from January to December, 2016 Japan Belt Manufacturing Association announced, production volume for rubber belts (quantity of new rubbers) was 26,373 tons, decreased by 7% compared to the same period of last year, resulting below 30K tons mark for 2 years in a row.
While domestic demand unchanged in transmission belts, 2 digits decrease in conveyor belts affected its production and thus the total production volume finished with 19,695 tons, decreased by 6% compared to the same period of last year.
As for exporting, as exporting volume for four-wheel vehicles gained upward momentum, transmission belts shifted from the previous year’s decrease to increase. On the other hand, conveyor belts continued to suffer from poor demand from resource countries. As a result, the production volume finished with 6,678 tons, decreased by 12% compared to the same period of last year.
By item, the total production amount for conveyor belts from January to December was 14,607 tons, decreased by 13% compared to the same period of last year. For domestic demand in conveyor belts, the production volume in 2016 for iron & steel and cement, which are the main demanders, fell below the previous year performance. The resulted figure was 9,467 tons, decreased by 11% compared to the same period of last year.
As for conveyor belts, export demand in coal producing countries namely Australia shifted low, thus resulted in 5,140 tons, decreased by 16% compared to the same period of last year.
Transmission belts from January to December were 11,766 tons, increased by 1% compared to the same period of last year. Domestic demand was 10,227 tons unchanged, and export was 1,538 tons, increased by 4% compared to the same period of last year.
For transmission belts targeting automobile industry, domestic demand has been showing a downward trend due to weakening light automobile market and hybridization of automobiles. While on the other hand, automobile export for China and North America has been progressing steadily, thus exporting volume for four-wheel vehicles in 2016 was increased by 1.2% compared to last year (Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, Inc), showing increase 2 years in a row.
The transmission belts breaks down is as follows; for toothed belts, domestic demand increased by 5%, and export demand increased by 5%, resulting in 5% increase in total compared to the same period of last year. For V belts, domestic demand unchanged and export demand decreased by 2%, resulting unchanged in total compared to the same period of last year. For other belts, domestic demand decreased by 1% and export demand increased by 15%, resulting in 4% increase in total compared to the same period of last year.
The production volume of rubber belts in December itself was 2,035 tons, decreased by 4% from the same period of last year. Domestic demand was 1,553 tons, decreased by 2% and export was 483 tons, decreased by 8% compared to the same period of last year.
By description, conveyor belts in total was decreased by 8%, where domestic demand decreased by 5% and export decreased by 16% compared to the same period of last year. Transmission belts in total were 908 tons, increased by 3%, where domestic demand increased by 1% and export increased by 23% compared to the same period of last year. The detailed breakdown is as follows: toothed belts increased by 1%, V fan belts increased by 2%, and other belts increased by 26%.
For resin conveyor belts from January to December, overall production amount was 1,090,626㎡, increased by 6% and shipment value was 12 billion 354 million 891,000 yen, increased by 6% compared to the same period of last year.
By material, PVC was 186,598㎡ unchanged, polyurethane was 765,508㎡ increased by 10%, and other materials were 138,520㎡ decreased by 7% compared to the same period of last year.