The Japan Construction Equipment Manufacturers Association said that construction machinery shipments in June 2012 fell by 3.5 percent year over year to JPY 195.16 billion (about U.S. $2.45 billion), the first decline in 30 months, Nikkei News said. The drop came in reaction to earlier strength in shipments, with demand weakening for machines used to develop natural resources.
Exports, which account for a high percentage of the shipment total, decreased 10.3 percent to JPY 139.2 billion, with a 14.9-percent plunge in shipments of hydraulic shovels and a 7-percent drop in shipments of mini-shovels. Shipments slid in six of nine regions, including China, other Asian countries and the Middle East.
Domestic shipments increased 18.9 percent year over year to JPY 56 billion, with road construction machinery shipments jumping 52.6 percent, lifted by strong demand for areas rebuilding after the massive earthquake in eastern Japan last year, the report said.
