According to the production status for rubbers and resin conveyor belts from January to June, 2016 Japan Belt Manufacturing Association announced, production volume for rubber belts (quantity of new rubbers) was 13,201 tons, decreased by 10% compared to the same period of last year. Both conveyor belts and transmission belts ended lower than the previous year’s actual performance.
By quarter, the total volume from January to March was 6,629 tons, decreased by 10% compared to the same period of last year. The total volume from April to June was 6,572 tons, decreased by 11% compared to the same period of last year.
By description, total volume for conveyor belts from January to June was 7,392 tons, decreased by 16% compared to the same period of last year. It continues to show a downward trend with the total volume of 3,736 tons (15% decrease) from January to March and 3,656 tons (16% decrease) from April to June.
Domestic demand for conveyor belts from January to June period dropped by 1.1% (Research by The Japan Iron and Steel Federation) due to poor growth in crude steel sector’s demand where the majority of demands come from. Thus it ended with 4,832 tons, decreased by 14% compared to the same period of last year.
As for export, although it shifted to increase in February for the first time in 6 months, export demand in coal producing countries namely Australia continues to hover around, thus resulted in 2,560 tons, decreased by 19% compared to the same period of last year.
On the other hand, total volume for transmission belts from January to June was 5,809 tons, decreased by 1% compared to the same period of last year. Domestic demand was 5,049 tons, decreased by 2%, and export was 760 tons, decreased by 3%. The total volume from January to March was 2,893 tons, decreased by 2%. Of these, domestic demand resulted in 2,541 tons, decreased by 1% and export resulted in 352 tons, decreased by 6% compared to the same period of last year. The total volume from April to June was 2,916 tons, decreased by 2%. Of these, domestic demand resulted in 2,508 tons, decreased by 2% and export resulted in 408 tons, decreased by 1% compared to the same period of last year. Therefore, while slight decrease trend still continues, little signs of recovery can be seen.
For transmission belts, production volume for four-wheel vehicles from January to June, which account for the half of the demand, was decreased by 3.4% compare to the same period of last year (Research by Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, Inc.). However, when looking on a single month basis, some months went over the actual result from the same month last year. This contributes to keep production decrease minimum. On the other hand, the total order amount for machine tools from January to June continued to decline and resulted in 22.0% decrease compare to the same period of last year (Research by Japan Machine Tool Builders’ Association).
The transmission belts breaks down is as follows; for toothed belts, domestic demand unchanged and export demand decreased by 4%, resulting in 1% decrease in total compared to the same period of last year. For V belts, domestic demand decreased by 2% and export demand decreased by 6%, resulting in 2% decrease in total compared to the same period of last year. Other belts were the only one with an increase, showing 5% increase in exporting. Domestic demand decreased by 5%, resulting in 2% decrease in total compared to the same period of last year.
The production volume of rubber belts in June itself was 2,348 tons, decreased by 12% from the same period of last year. Domestic demand was 1,798 tons, decreased by 7% and export was 550 tons, decreased by 24% compared to the same period of last year.
By description, conveyor belts in total was decreased by 18%, where domestic demand decreased by 10% and export decreased by 30% compared to the same period of last year. Transmission belts in total were 1,070 tons, decreased by 4%, where domestic demand decreased by 4% and export decreased by 2% compared to the same period of last year. The detailed breakdown is as follows: toothed belts increased by 4%, V fan belts decreased by 6%, and other belts increased by 5%.
For resin conveyor belts from January to June, overall production amount was 514,892㎡, increased by 4% and shipment value was 5 billion 882 million 330,000 yen, increased by 4% compared to the same period of last year.
By material, PVC was 88,552㎡ increased by 1%, polyurethane was 359,422㎡ increased by 6%, and other materials were 66,918㎡ decreased by 3% compared to the same period of last year.