Japanese motorcycle manufacturer 250cc+ exports to Europe were up by a massive 75.6 percent in June. Regardless of the comparative percentage, at 9,751 units (compared to 5,553 units in June 2013) that is the strongest June performance for the Japanese manufacturers in Europe since 2011.
While the percentage probably has more to do with short-term issues affecting June 2013, and represents summer inventory building, it was the 9th straight month of increased motorcycle exports to Europe by the Japanese manufacturers - a recovery trend that has followed the same pattern seen in Europe's national sales statistics since October last year. Cumulatively the first six months of the year sees Japanese manufacturer 250cc+ exports to Europe up by 20.25 percent so far, at 84,312 units, from the 70,113 units exported to Europe in the first six months of 2013.
The high-point of the market was seen in 2007 when the Japanese manufacturers sent nearly 259,000 units to their European dealers in the first six months of the year alone!
The picture is very different in the United States however. Despite some indications of growth there last year and this, demand appears to remain fragile - Japanese manufacturer 250cc+ exports to dealers in the U.S. were off by -28.18 percent in May, and by -38.78 percent in June (5,671 units), leaving the market down by -7.65 percent for the first six months of 2014 (59,475 units).
