The Communications and Information network Association of Japan (CIAJ: a general incorporated association) announces the telecommunication equipment production and trade figures for April through September, 2012 as follows.
The total value of production in the first half of FY2012 was 634.7 billion yen (+5.3% year-over-year growth), reverting to positive growth for the first time in eight years. The Japanese economy showed signs of gradual recovery, sustained by domestic demand – including post-earthquake/tsunami reconstruction, from the latter half of FY2011. However, the European debt crisis around August 2012 and the slowing growth of emerging markets, combined with the unprecedented strong valuation of the yen presented difficult challenges for the Japanese economy.
The domestic telecommunication equipment figures during the first half of FY2012 indicate moderate growth, reflecting healthy demand from the public sector, including post earthquake/tsunami recovery efforts, and resumption of capital investments in facilities in the private sector. However, domestic brands are facing enormous challenges in such areas as smartphones, with fierce competition from foreign brands not only in global markets, but also in the domestic market.
The total figure for exports was 140.7 billion yen (-20.4% year-over-year growth) while imports was 926.5 billion yen (+33.9% year-over-year growth).
1. Production Trends in the First Half of FY2012
The total value of production in the first half of FY2012 was 634.7 billion yen. The +5.3% year-over-year growth was the first positive growth in eight years.
[Figures by equipment categories]
- Wireline terminal equipment: 39.1 billion yen (-11.2% year-over-year growth)
- Mobile terminal equipment: 335.3 billion yen (+3.7% year-over-year growth) of which:
- Mobile phones 299.5 billion yen (+5.8% year-over-year growth)
- Public-use PHS terminals 6.7 billion yen (-47.6% year-over-year growth)
- Wireline network equipment: 161.4 billion yen (-1.3% year-over-year growth).
- Switching systems: 61.9 billion yen (+11.4% year-over-year growth)
- Transmission equipment: 99.6 billion yen (-7.8% year-over-year growth).
- Wireless network equipment: 67.9 billion yen (+63.1% year-over-year growth)
- Base stations: 48.5 billion yen (+323.9% year-over-year growth)
- Network access equipment: 21.1 billion yen (+3.6% year-over-year growth)
- Wireline parts: 9.9 billion yen (+0.6% year-over-year growth)
<Major equipment category trends in the first half of FY2012>
- The figure for wireline terminal equipment reflects the shrinking of the market itself, and despite healthy domestic demand for replacement of telephones, facsimiles and intercom equipment after the earthquake/tsunami, the relocation of manufacturing facilities of these devices led to a significant drop.
- In mobile terminal equipment, domestic brands launched numerous smartphone models, leading to a return to positive growth for mobile phones and an overall positive growth for the category as well. On the other hand, the popularity of smartphones led to a large drop in production of public-use PHS terminals.
- In wireline network equipment, despite the spike in demand for switching systems to meet post disaster needs, it was not enough to off set the drop in transmission equipment and the figure for the category as a whole decreased over the previous year.
- Despite the decrease in fixed communication equipment, the more than quadrupling of base station equipment pushed the entire figure for wireless network equipment to a substantial growth.
- Network access equipment, such as routers, and wireline parts continued to indicate positive growth with disaster recovery efforts and BCP measures taken by enterprises to strengthen system durability.
2. Noteworthy Export Developments in the First Half of FY2012
The total figure for exports in the first half of FY2012 was 140.7 billion yen (-20.4% year-over-year growth)
 Telephone sets and terminal equipment | 2.8 billion yen |
| Mobile phones | 0.9 billion yen |
| Facsimiles | 0.6 billion yen |
| Cordless handsets for landline phones | 0.2 billion yen |
| Other | 1.2 billion yen |
| Network equipment | 67.0 billion yen |
| Base stations | 7.7 billion yen |
| Data communication equipment | 57.3 billion yen |
| Other network equipment | 2.0 billion yen |
| Parts | 70.9 billion yen |
All categories showed year-over-year negative growth. Significant drops were seen in parts (-25.6 billion yen, -25.7% year-over-year growth) and data communication equipment (-8.6 billion yen, -13.1% year-over-year growth).
By region, Asia was 83.4 billion yen (-21.8% year-over-year growth, accounting for 59.3% of the overall figure), of which China was 29.2 billion yen. North America was 34.4 billion yen (-17.7% year-over-year growth, accounting for 24.4% of the overall figure), of which the U.S. accounted for 32.1 billion yen. Europe was 13.9 billion yen (-24.9% year-over-year growth, accounting for 9.9% of the overall figure) of which the EU was 10.8 billion yen.
Exports to China saw an especially steep decline of -40.8% year-over-year growth.
3. Noteworthy Import Developments in the First Half of FY2012
The total figure for imports in the first half of FY2012 was 926.5 billion yen (+33.9% year-over-year growth)
| Telephone sets and terminal equipment | 478.7 billion yen |
| Mobile phones | 470.1 billion yen |
| Facsimiles | 2.7 billion yen |
| Cordless handsets for landline phones | 3.3 billion yen |
| Other | 2.6 billion yen |
| Network equipment | 293.2 billion yen |
| Base stations | 40.6 billion yen |
| Data communication equipment | 241.6 billion yen |
| Other network equipment | 11.1 billion yen |
| Parts | 154.5 billion yen |
On a year-over-year basis, mobile phones showed over 30% growth (+47.2%) for the third consecutive year. Other network equipment (+62.2%) also recorded significant growth.
By region, Asia was 846.4 billion yen (+37.4% year-over-year growth), of which China was 611.0 billion yen. North America was 38.7 billion yen (+0.3% year-over-year growth), of which the U.S. accounted for 37.2 billion yen. Europe was 22.2 billion yen (-15.7% year-over-year growth) of which the EU was 21.7 billion yen.
The numbers for mobile phones, data communication equipment and parts accounted for over 93.7% of the total figure.
Note: The figures mentioned in this press release are based on tallied figures as of the press release date. It is possible that revisions will be made at a future date.
For details, contact
Market Research
CIAJ
tel: 81-3-5403-9356 fax: 81-3-5403-9360
For more general inquiries, contact
Corporate Communications
CIAJ
tel: 81-3-5403-9351 fax: 81-3-5403-9360
