Japanese automakers in October this year manufactured and exported significantly less automobiles, including cars, trucks and motorcycles, compared to figures for the same month a year earlier, according to a report by the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, Inc. (JAMA), issued on Monday.

Automobile production in Japan in October 2009 was recorded at 820,910 units compared with 1,1014,403 units for the same month of the previous year, according to the report.

This marks a 19.1 percent production decrease on the same month of the previous year, for a period of thirteen consecutive months.

Exports in October also declined 34.6 percent from the same month a year earlier, with 199,110 less units being shipped. The number of units exported in October this year was 376,281, with the total value coming to US$10,576.07 million, which includes 7,603.25 million U.S. dollars for vehicles and US$2,972.82 million for parts.

This is a decrease of US$3,007.33 million or 22.1 percent, in comparison with US$13,583.40 million recorded in October of the previous year.

Locations in Asia, the Middle East and Europe were the top three destinations for Japanese automobile exports in October, with Toyota Motor Corp. shifting the most units at 156,058, followed by Nissan Motor Corp. who exported 56,717 units. Mazda Motor Corp. exported 56,621 units.

These exports figures were down on the figures for the same month a year earlier with Toyota, Nissan and Mazda dropping 69, 84.7 and 79.8 percent respectively.

714,365 passenger cars were manufactured in October 2009, 149,306 less units than in October 2008, which is a drop of 17.3 percent. 29.7 percent less trucks were produced and the manufacturing of buses was also down 24.3 percent, compared to figures a year earlier.

Motorcycle export in October 2009 was recorded as 41,143 units. Compared with the 90,702 units total recorded for the same month of the previous year, this is a decrease of 49,559 units or 54.6 percent, and export decrease on the same month of the previous year, for twenty five consecutive months, according to JAMA's report on Monday.

The total value of motorcycles exported for October was US$334.12 million including US$229.94 million for vehicles and US$14.18 million for parts. This is a decrease of US$263.09 million or 44.1 percent, as compared with US$597.21 million recorded for the same month of the previous year, the report stated.

Asia, the Middle-East and Europe were the top three destinations for exports of motorcycles, with Honda, Suzuki and Yamaha the top three exporters respectively.

(Xinhua News Agency November 30, 2009)