According to the actual production status for rubber hoses in 2016 Japan Belt Manufacturing Association announced, the production volume for rubber belts (quantity of new rubbers) was 34,621 tons, decreased by 1.6%, and shipment value was 135 billion 490 million yen, decreased by 0.5% compared to the same period of last year.
Although rubber hoses for construction machines and machine tools shifted towards recovery, automobile hoses, which account for two-thirds of hose production amount, shifted towards decrease and thus affected the result. As rubber hoses for other purposes also declined, the result for both volume and amount went below the previous year’s actual performance.
By description, production volume for automobile hoses was 23,059 tons, decreased by 0.8% and the shipment value was 99 billion 776 million yen, decreased by 0.1% compared to the same period of last year.
For automobile production, export for China and North America has been progressing steadily, thus exporting volume in 2016 was increased by 1.2% compared to last year (Figures from Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, Inc.), showing increase 2 years in a row. However, domestic sales were affected by several factors including sluggish sales in light automobile market, and thus the overall production volume was decreased by 0.8% compared to the same period of last year. These factors consider to be the cause for decline in both production volume and amount for automobiles.
Production volume for high pressure hoses was 4,253 tone, increased by 3.3% and the amount was 17 billion 32 million yen, increased by 4.6% compared to the same period of last year, thus showing increase on both.
Although the total shipment value for construction machines in 2016 (Figures from Japan Construction Equipment Manufacturers Association), where the majority of demands on high pressure hoses come from, fell by 7.4% compared to last year, long suffering demand for construction machinery in China finally bottomed out and the total shipment values for both November and December on a single month basis exceeded the result for same period of last year for 2 continuous months. On the other hand, while the total order amount for machine tools also decreased by 15.6%, showing a 2 digit decrease, the result for December on a single month basis shifted to an increase for the first time in 17 months. Both production volume and amount for high pressure hoses are expected to continue to shift towards recovery.
Production volume for braided hoses, water supply hoses and other hoses was 7,309 tone, decreased by 6.4% and the amount was 18 billion 682 million yen, decreased by 7.0% compared to the same period of last year. Particularly, the decrease on production and shipment volumes for large bore oil-proof hoses brought down the overall figures.
As for December by itself, overall production volume was 2,886 tons, increased by 4.0% compared to the same period of last year. Shipment value was 12 billion 596 million yen, increased by 13.1% compared to the same period of last year. Both production volume and shipment amount increased for 2 continuous months.
By description, production volume for high pressure hoses was 364 tons, increased by 23.4% and the amount was 1 billion 415 million yen, increased by 12.1% compared to the same period of last year, thus both showing 2 digit increase.
Production volume for automobile hoses was 1,870 tone, increased by 2.4% and the shipment value was 8 billion 731 million yen, increased by 7.9% compared to the same period of last year.
As for production volume of other hoses, production volume was 652 tons, decreased by 0.2%, and the shipment value was 2 billion 450 million yen, increased by 37.6% compared to the same period of last year.