According to the actual production status for rubber hoses from January to June in 2016 which Japan Rubber Hoses Association announced, the production volume for rubber hoses (quantity of new rubbers) was 16,968 tons, decreased by 3.4%, and shipment value was 66 billion 63 million yen, decreased by 2.6% compared to the same period of last year (The figure reflects the revised value announced by Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry).
While Industrial Production Index announced by Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry turned into positive in March, it has been below the figure in the same month last year since April, thus domestic economy remains uncertain over the future. Among those, automobile hoses, which account for two-thirds of hose production amount, has shifted towards decrease, thus overall production amount went below the previous year’s actual performance result. The shipment value on automobile and other hoses except high pressure hoses also showed sluggish growth, hence rubber hoses in total ended below the previous year’s actual performance.
By description, production volume for automobile hoses between January and June was 11,344 tons, decreased by 2.4% compared to the same period of last year. Although production volume for four-wheel vehicles exceeded previous year’s volume in March and May, the accumulated total volume from January to June went below the previous year’s volume (Figure by Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, Inc.). It seems that this affected production volumes for automobile hoses, causing production decrease. The shipment value was 48 billion 782 million yen, also decreased by 2.2% compared to the same period of last year.
For high pressure hoses, which are used for construction machines and machine tools, the production volume was 2,018 tons, decreased by 3.9% compared to the same period of last year. For construction machines, the domestic demand for the leading hydraulic excavators continues to suffer a reactionary decline in association with exhaust gas regulation. As for overseas, orders have been delaying in recovery in resource countries including China and Australia. In addition to this, orders for machine tools continue to decline in both domestic and foreign demand. The accumulated total order amount between January and July was decreased by 21.6% (research by Japan Machine Tool Builders’ Association), showing a significant drop. All these factors caused production decrease for high pressure hoses. On the other hand, hoses for residential use and construction machineries in North America showed steady growth and their export figures ended in increase. The shipment value was 8 billion 264 million yen, increased by 2.4% compared to the same period of last year. However, inventory quantity at the end of June was decreased by 11.2% compared to the same period of last year.
Production volume for braided hoses, water supply hoses and other hoses was 3,606 tons, decreased by 6.5%. The amount was 9 billion 17 million yen, decreased by 8.7% compared to the same period of last year. Although large diameter wrapped hoses have occasional demands in Middle East and Africa, overall demand remains at a standstill, thus decreased in both production volume and amount.
As for June by itself, overall production volume was 2,921 tons, decreased by 4.6% compared to the same period of last year. Shipment value was 11 billion 721 million yen, decreased by 0.7% compared to the same period of last year.
By description, production volume for high pressure hoses was 364 tons, decreased by 1.1% and the amount was 1 billion 487 million yen, increased by 5.8% compared to the same period of last year.
Production volume for automobile hoses was 1,978 tone, decreased by 0.3% and the shipment value was 8 billion 427 million yen, decreased by 2.1% compared to the same period of last year.
As for production volume of other hoses, production volume was 579 tons, decreased by 19.9%, and the shipment value was 1 billion 807 million yen, increased by 0.6% compared to the same period of last year.