According to statistics released from the Japan Sewing Machinery Manufacturers Association (JASMA), the nation’s exports of industrial sewing machines during January-June 2016 increased by 3.0% in quantity and 7.7% in value year-on-year to 78,861 machines worth 18,665.4 million yen.
By region, exports to Southeast and South Asia grew by 16.2% and 25.9% respectively to 37,557 valued at 8,653.3 million yen. Those to East Asia also rose by 4.6% and 1.0% to 19,909 worth 5,555.9 million yen.
Exports to Singapore was at the top with 19,939 (up 0.9%) valued at 5,684.0 million yen (up 8.2%), and those to Hong Kong decreased by 1.1% in quantity to 8,430, but rose by 4.2% in value to 2,814 million yen. Exports to China grew by 16.2% to 9,198, but the value remained unchanged at 2,424.4 million yen. Exports to Malaysia sharply increased by 177.7% and 129.7% respectively to 3,599 valued at 1,175.8 million yen.