Tokyo, Sept. 30 (Jiji Press)–Japan’s industrial output fell 1.7 pct from the previous month in August, down for the second consecutive month amid the impact of recent natural disasters, government data showed Wednesday. The seasonally adjusted production index for the mining and manufacturing sectors stood at 102.6 against 100 for the base year of 2020, the industry ministry said in a preliminary report. A major earthquake in Kumamoto Prefecture in July and a typhoon caused automotive plants to suspend operations and disrupted supply chains. Based on the latest index reading, the ministry maintained its basic view that industrial production “fluctuates indecisively.” Production declined in 12 of the 15 surveyed industries. The automotive sector logged a production fall of 6.8 pct, with output of ordinary passenger cars down 5.7 pct and that of small cars down 17.3 pct. Business-oriented machinery production dropped 6.0 pct, and output of petroleum and coal products slumped 13.3 pct. In the same month, the shipment index fell 2.5 pct, down for the first time in two months. The inventory index dipped 0.5 pct, the first decline in three months Production is projected to rebound 3.2 pct in September and 3.1 pct in October. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
