According to the actual production status for rubber hoses in 2015 Japan Belt Manufacturing Association announced, the production volume of rubber belts (quantity of new rubbers) was 35,175 tons, decreased by 1.2%, and shipment value was 136 billion 270 million yen, decreased by 1.1% compared to the same period of last year.
Up until October, there has been a big drop in automobile tires production where the majority of demands on rubber hoses come from, and the total shipment value for construction machines also showed a significant drop. Furthermore, the total order amount for machine tools, which had been remaining strong up until July, started to slow down since August. Due to all these factors, rubber hose production in overall also decreased.
However, it did go slightly above the 34,910 tons figure, which was predicted by Japan Belt Manufacturing Association in the beginning of this year. The fact that automobiles didn’t fall as much as anticipated and good export performance in large bore oil-proof hoses are considered to be some contributing factors.
By description, production volume for automobile tubes, which accounts for two-thirds of production amount, was 23,254 tons, decreased by 1.5%, and amount was 99 billion 907 million yen, decreased by 0.5% compared to the same period of last year, thus both went below the previous year’s actual performance result. The fact that the production volume for four-wheel vehicles (figures by Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, Inc.) decreased by 5.1% compared to the previous year’s actual performance result contributed to this result. It did, however, performed beyond the fore-end prediction of 2.6% decrease for automobile hoses.
Production volume for high pressure hoses was 4,118 tons, decreased by 6.5% and the amount was 16 billion 287 million yen, decreased by 6.2% compared to the same period of last year, thus showing decrease on both.
The total shipment value for construction machines in 2015 (Figures from Japan Construction Equipment Manufacturers Association), where the majority of demands on high pressure hoses come from, fell significantly below than originally anticipated, marking 5.3% decrease. Due to the prolonged downturn in economy in China, demand for resource related production didn’t recover, thus production of large-size construction machines has also dropped. The total order amount for machine tools, which had been performing well during the first half of the year, also slowed down by the second half, thus the annual result ended with a decrease of 1.9% compared to the same period of last year. Due to these contributing factors, production of high pressure hoses remained low throughout the year.
Production volume for braided hoses, water supply hoses and other hoses was 7,803 tons, increased by 2.8% and the amount was 20 billion 77 million yen, increased by 0.1% compared to the same period of last year. Production and shipment volumes for large bore oil-proof hoses have been performing particularly well during the first half of the year, thus brought up overall figures.
As for December by itself, overall production volume was 2,776 tons, decreased by 4.4% compared to the same period of last year. Shipment value was 11 billion 134 million yen, decreased by 2.8% compared to the same period of last year. Both production volume and shipment value went to decrease from increase.
By description, production volume for high pressure hoses was 295 tons, decreased by 11.4% and the shipment value was 1 billion 262 million yen, decreased by 12.5% compared to the same period of last year.
Production volume for automobile hoses was 1,827 tone, decreased by 5.3% and the shipment value was 8 billion 92 million yen, decreased by 2.4% compared to the same period of last year.
As for production volume of other hoses, large bore oil-proof hoses showed some recovery and ended with 654 tons, increased by 1.9% and the shipment value was 1 billion 780 million yen, increased by 3.9% compared to the same period of last year.