Export data released by the Japanese customs office today showed a decline of 40.9% year-over-year, lower than consensus estimates and a sequential decline from last month's figures.
Critically, May exports bound for China registered under 5% of Total exports -the lowest percentage in over 20 years. Although the Japanese auto manufacturers and other durable goods producers are participating in "the client's" recovery financially through joint ventures, the reliance on higher margin North American and European markets continues to keep domestic assembly lines stalled.
With job security still weighing heavily on domestic consumers and nowhere for rates to go but up, we continue to see Yen weakness as the sole near term positive catalyst for Japanese manufacturers as they grapple with stagnant customer markets.
Andrew Barber
Director