The latest data released by JAMA (the automotive trade association in Japan, which includes representation of motorcycle manufacturers among its membership) shows exports of 250cc+ Japanese made motorcycles to Europe in July up by +13.11 percent (8,518 units), having been down by -3.3 percent in June, and up by +20.69 percent for the first seven months of 2016 (112,073 units).
This is the best first seven-month performance since 2010. For the full year 2015 European motorcycle imports from Japan were down by -3.65 percent at some 151,000 units.
Japanese manufactured total PTW exports to Europe were +13.00 percent in July at 11,147 units, having been +4.93 percent in June at 11,175 units. They are running at +20.66 percent for the first seven months of 2016 at 121,847 units in total – the best first seven months for Japanese made PTW exports to Europe since 2010.
Motorcycle shipments from Japan to the USA were -7.50 percent in July (3,907 units) and are -5.31 percent for the year-to-date at 42,720 units; worldwide Japanese made motorcycle exports were -9.47 percent in July (17,146 units), but are +3.36 percent for the year-to-date (196,777 units).
Total worldwide Japanese manufactured PTW exports are +3.30 percent for the first seven months of 2016 at 254,485 units.
The increasing number of units being made by the Japanese manufacturers elsewhere in Asia, the US and South/Central America goes some way to explaining the data, though the majority of higher value larger displacement Japanese brand machines, especially those being sold in Europe, are still made in Japan.
Their overseas factories are primarily engaged in making and selling scooters and smaller capacity units in 'emerging' markets (where import tariffs are high) and in making ATV/UTV units - especially in the United States, where demand for such machines is strongest.
