Industrial production in January -7.5% compared to December, with a sharp decline of 17.8% in the automotive industry. Japanese Ministry of Industry has revised its assessment of the production cycle downwards for the first time in six months.
In January, the first Japanese car manufacturer decided to suspend shipments of some models after having found irregularities in the certification tests of diesel engines developed by its subsidiary Toyota Industries. A gradual resumption of activities is expected next Monday after the green light from the Ministry of Transport - which had previously lifted the shipping ban.