Japanese exports to U.S. rise in September

Motorcycle exports from Japanese OEMs to the U.S. in September increased by 68 percent compared to the year-ago month, according to data release by the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association.

Exports to the Middle East increased by 32 percent compared to September 2010, with exports to Latin America rising by 10 percent. Exports to Europe declined by more than 30 percent.

Worldwide motorcycle exports from Japanese OEMs in September increased by 4 percent compared to the year-ago month. Motorcycle exports for the month were reported as 39,373 units, an increase of 1,576 and an export increase on the same month of the previous year after a downturn in August.

Honda’s worldwide exports during September increased by 21 percent compared to the year-ago month to 11,056 units. Kawasaki (6 percent) and Yamaha (5 percent) also saw worldwide export increases from the year-ago month. Suzuki’s exports declined by nearly 25 percent compared to September 2010.

Exports of motorcycles with 51-125cc engine displacement were up 30.6 percent, with 50cc or under bike exports up 18.2 percent. Bikes in the 126-250cc class saw exports of less than 1 percent, and over 250cc class bikes were down 1.4 percent.

The total value of motorcycles exported in September was $372.285 million, including $229.988 million for units and $142.397 million for parts. That’s an increase of 13.3 percent compared to September 2010.

Exports from Japanese OEMs for the first half of fiscal 2011 decreased 2 percent to 221,834 units compared the year-ago first half. Honda was the lone Japanese OEM to see an export increase for the first half, with an increase of 33 percent. Suzuki and Kawasaki (both 4 percent) and Yamaha (21 percent) had export declines for the first half of the fiscal year compared to a year ago.

Motorcycle production in September by Japanese OEMs was flat compared to the year-ago month. JAMA data shows that unit production in Japan endured a slight decrease of 0.7 percent. There were 57,480 units produced in September, compared to 57,908 in September 2010. It’s a production decrease on the same month of the previous year after four months of upturn.

Production of bikes from 51-125cc increased 16.8 percent, and production of 50cc-under bikes increased 11 percent. Bikes in the 126-250cc range saw an 11.8 percent decrease in production compared to the year-ago month, and production of bikes over 250cc was down 19.7 percent.

Domestic sales (factory shipment) in September stood at 39,005 units, an increase of 1.3 percent compared to the year-ago month. Bikes in the 51-125cc engine displacement were down 24.9 percent, 126-250cc bikes were up 21.8 percent, and over 250cc were down 19.7 percent.

Honda saw a 16.1 percent increase in production in September compared to the year-ago month, while Kawasaki had a 2 percent gain. Suzuki (about 14 percent) and Yamaha (about 12 percent) both saw production declines.

Meanwhile, the first half of fiscal year 2011 (April 2011-September 2011) showed slight growth of 1 percent. There were 314,800 units produced in the first six months of the fiscal year, an increase of 2,970. It’s a production increase during the first half of the fiscal year for the second consecutive year.

In the first half, production of 50cc or under bikes as up 21.9 percent compared to the first half of the previous fiscal year. Production of bikes in 51-125cc engine displacement was down 7.1 percent, with 126-250cc bikes were up 3.0 percent. Over 250cc bike production was down 4 percent.

Domestic sales (factory shipment) in the first half of fiscal 2011 were 214,638 units, an 11.4 percent increase from the same time period a year ago.

Honda saw a 15.3 percent production increase during the first half of fiscal 2011 compared to the year-ago half, with 108,007 units produced. Kawasaki had a 1.8 gain, with Suzuki down about 1 percent and Yamaha down about 13 percent.

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