Based on the annual production & shipment value summary of rubber products in 2015 from Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the shipment value was 2 trillion 262 billion 952 million yen, decreased by 3.6% compared to the same period of last year.
By item, just like last year, rubber footwear went beyond the previous year’s actual performance result in both volume and amount, and other rubber products also did the same in their amount. However, automobile tire tubes, rubber belts, rubber hoses, and industrial rubber products are all went below the previous year’s actual performance result in both volume and amount.
The annual production number of automobile tire tubes was 152,429,000, decreased by 5.4% compared to the same period of last year. The detailed breakdown is as follows: trucks & buses were 10,265,000 decreased by 6.7%; passenger vehicles were 113,841,000, decreased by 5.1 %; small trucks were 23,142,000, decreased by 6.1%; two-wheeled vehicles were 3,745,000, decreased by 2.3%; specialized vehicles were 1,438,885, decreased by 12.2% compared to the same period of last year. Therefore, all tires went below the previous year’s actual performance result. Shipment value was 1 trillion 233 billion 413 million yen, decreased by 5.9% compared to the same period of last year. The detailed breakdown is as follows: trucks & buses were 256 billion 991 million yen, decreased by 12.0%; passenger vehicles were 601 billion 234 million yen, decreased by 4.5%; small trucks were 156 billion 210 million yen, decreased by 5.4% compared to the same period of last year.
Until October, automobiles continued to fall below the previous year performance in production volume for 16 continuous months. Although it shifted positively in November for the first time in 17 months, it went below the previous year again in December. Furthermore, the number of commercial tires sold resulted in a fall throughout the year. All these factors affected the result.
Production volume (quantity of new rubbers) for rubber belts was 23,735 tons, decreased by 9.1% and the amount was 70 billion 512 million yen, decreased by 4.7% compared to the same period of last year.
While domestic demand progressed relatively steadily in conveyor belts, transmission belts slowed down throughout the year due to continuous decrease in automobile production. For export, performance toward resource countries continued to decline and thus couldn’t stop conveyor belts export continuing to fall down. Due to all these factors, it went below the previous year.
The annual production volume for rubber hoses was 35,175 tons, decreased by 1.2% and the amount was 136 billion 270 million yen, decreased by 1.1% compared to the same period of last year.
As more than 70% of overall production in rubber hoses is for automobiles, it was affected by decrease in automobile production. As for high pressure hoses, construction machines went below the previous year’s total shipment value for the first time in 2 years, thus caused a negative figure result compare to the previous year.
For others, the annual production volume for industrial rubber products was 172,342 tone, decreased by 3.4% and the amount was 666 billion 136 million yen, decreased by 1.1% compared to the same period of last year.
Shipment value in December alone was 174 billion 585 million yen, decreased by 7.4% compared to the same period of last year and showed a decrease for 6 months in a row.
The production number of automobile tire tubes was 11,507,000, decreased by 3.5% compared to the same period of last year. All tires have decreased. Shipment value was 90 billion 125 million yen, decreased by 11.2% compared to the same period of last year and showed a decrease for 9 months in a row. All tires have decreased.
For rubber belts in December, production volume was 1,741 tons, decreased by 23.9% compared to the same period of last year. All belts fell in production volume. Amount was 5 billion 797 million yen, decreased by 18.5% compared to the same period of last year.
For rubber hoses in December, production volume was 2,776 tons, decreased by 4.4% compared to the same period of last year. Amount was 11 billion 134 million yen, decreased by 2.8% compared to the same period of last year. Both automobiles and high pressure hoses fell below the previous year performance.
Production volume for industrial rubber products in December was 13,640 tone, decreased by 4.6% and the amount was 54 billion 194 million yen, decreased by 2.5% compared to the same period of last year.