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 up by +6.98 percent in September (7,265 units), having been down by -11.98 percent in June, and up by +17.59 percent for the first nine months of 2016 (125,750 units).
This is the best first nine-month performance since 2009. 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 -2.69 percent in September at 19,214 units, having been -12.95 percent in August. They are running at +15.98 percent for the first nine months of 2016 at 139,969 units in total – the best first nine months for Japanese made PTW exports to Europe since 2010.
Motorcycle shipments from Japan to the USA were -35.59 percent in September (5,133 units) and are -33.77 percent for the year-to-date at 50,899 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 -1.10 percent for the first nine months of 2016 at 303,318 units – their lowest in the 21st century, having peaked at 1.641m units in 2000.
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, although 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.
