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 36.05 percent in July 2017 (11,589 units), having been up by +31.71 percent in June (12,115 units) to make them +23.50 percent for the first seven months of the year (138,411 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 +21.50 percent in July (13.544 units), having been +33.60 percent for June (14,930 units). For the first seven months of 2017 they were running at +20.27 percent (146,545 units).
Motorcycle shipments from Japan to the USA were +1.79 percent for July (3,977 units), having been up +93.94 percent in June (5,698 units) and are running at -1.18 percent for the first seven months of the year (42,218 units), having been -9.36 percent for the full year 2016 at 72,458; worldwide Japanese made 250+cc motorcycle exports were +31.87 percent for July (22,611) units and are running at +16.15 percent for the YTD (228,555 units).
Total worldwide Japanese manufactured PTW exports were +10.10 percent in July (29,210 units) and are running at +11.58 percent YTD (283,951 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.
