Circuits Assembly Online Magazine - Japan's Electronics Production Up -- Barely

TOKYO – Japan produced 1.67 million yen worth of electronics in February, up 0.5% over last year, the Japan Electronics Industries Technologies Association reported.

March exports were down 13.3% to 1.18 million yen, and are down 9% for the year. Components were down 14.6%, while consumer electronics were up 2%. Components make up more than 70% of the value of Japan’s electronics exports.

Japan imported 702,714 million yen worth of electronics products in February, the latest month for which data are available, down 5.3% from 2007. Consumer electronics imports were up 107%, but industrial electronics, computers and components were down 9.4%, 8.5% and 10%, respectively.

For the year, Japan has imported 1.49 million yen worth of electronics, down 2.6%. Overall production is up 1.1%.

JEITA is one of Japan’s largest electronic associations, with 525 member companies.