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 1.5 percent in May 2017 (12,897 units), having been up by +61.44 percent in April (29,867 units), for an increase of +21.57 percent for the first five months of the year (114,707 units).
For the full year 2016 exports of 250+cc motorcycles to Europe were +18.83 percent at 180,290 units – the best full year performance experienced by the Japanese factories in Europe since the 201,000 exported in 2010, but still a long way south of the 420,000 exported in 2007 and 461,000 in 2000.
Overall Japanese manufactured total PTW exports to Europe were +1.71 percent in May (14,007 units), having been +55.01 percent for April (30,510 units). For the first five months of 2017 they were running at +18.63 percent (118,071 units).
Motorcycle shipments from Japan to the USA were +196.7 percent for May (5,486 units) having been up +14.66 percent in April (6,916 units) and are running at -9.29 percent for the first five months of the year (32,543 units), having been -9.36 percent for the full year 2016 at 72,458; worldwide Japanese made 250+cc motorcycle exports were +27.71 percent for May (24,921 units, and are running at +11.78 percent for the YTD (181,601 units).
Total worldwide Japanese manufactured PTW exports were +25.28 percent in May (32,033 units) and are running at +7.39 percent YTD (217,896 units). For the full year 2016 they were +2.61 percent at 428,619 units – their second lowest in the 21st century, having bottomed out at 417,000 in 2015; they 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, 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.
