- The term "rubber products" covers a variety of types of items, and so we will limit our remarks to general information this time. Detailed information on specific product types will be provided at a future date.
- Output of rubber products in terms of volume in 1996 was as follows:
| Product |
Output |
Perc. Against Prev. Year
|
| Auto tires/tubes |
1,066,017 |
tons |
103.7% |
| Bicycle tires |
11,615,000 |
pcs |
91.3% |
Rubber-soled cloth shoes
|
19,587,000 |
pairs |
94.4% |
| Rubber boots |
4,819,000 |
pairs |
94.9% |
| Rubber belts |
30,909 |
tons |
105.1% |
| Rubber hoses |
32,203 |
tons |
101.6% |
| Industrial goods |
213,241 |
tons |
100.4% |
| Rubberized fabric |
18,494,000 |
sq.m. |
79.4% |
| Medical supplies |
5,044 |
tons |
100.3% |
| Sports goods |
4,693 |
tons |
130.2% |
| Total |
1,422,432 |
tons |
103.6% |
| Value |
2.214909 |
trillion |
|
(Source: Ministry of International Trade and Industry Statistics)
Rubber belts refers to conveyor belts and transmission belts (toothed belts and V-belts), rubber hoses covers wire-braided hoses for automobiles, braided hoses, cloth-bound hoses (marine hoses, etc.), industrial goods are sponges, rubber vibration protection, gaskets, rubber lining and rubber rolls for office use, medical supplies are sanitary supplies and rubber surgical gloves, and sports goods are rubber balls and golf balls, etc.
- Exports of all rubber products for Jan-Aug 1996 totaled JY392.108 billion, 120.3% of the figure for the same period in the previous year. Auto tires and tubes grew a satisfactory 15.8% compared with the previous year. Rubber belts and industrial supplies recorded double-digit growth due to the falling yen. Exports of golf balls to the United States account for around 70% of exports of sports goods, and these also rose rapidly. Exports of rubber vibration protection (especially protection against gunwales, etc.) to countries such as Great Britain, Malaysia, Hong Kong and India rose. Exports of rubber thread and rubber string products to countries such as China (approx. 40% share) and Taiwan (16% share) also increased. The principal importers of Japanese rubber products and changes in their shares are shown below:
| Country |
Share |
Change |
| U.S.A. |
24% |
+9% |
| Germany |
6% |
+22% |
| Australia |
5% |
+26% |
Hong Kong
|
4% |
+30% |
| Taiwan |
3% |
-14% |
| Singapore |
3% |
+9% |
The largest proportion of exports of automobile tires and tubes goes to the United States, followed by Germany, Australia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Canada, but exports in many cases are used by Japanese car manufacturers that have moved into these countries. The total value of exports for Jan-Aug 1996 was JY238.047 billion. The total value of exports of rubber belts (Jan-Aug 1996) was JY21.995 billion, up 17.5% over the previous year, the main importer being the United States followed by Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, Germany and Holland. Exports of rubber hoses (Jan-Aug 1996) totaled JY18.864 billion, and the main importers in order of importance were the United States, Thailand, Malaysia, Taiwan, Indonesia and Great Britain.
- Imports of all rubber products for Jan-Aug 1996 totaled JY123.856 billion, 112.9% of the previous year. Japan's main sources of imports and changes in their shares were as follows:
| Country |
Share |
Change |
| U.S.A. |
26% |
+6% |
| China |
23% |
+35% |
South Korea
|
8% |
+0.3% |
| Malaysia |
7% |
+29% |
There was a sharp increase in imports of rubber footwear from China (70% share) and South Korea (27% share). A third of all foam rubber products (e.g. sponge and silicon rubber) came from the United States, and there were also large rises in imports from countries such as Italy, Taiwan and China. Imports of rubberized fabric products such as rubber boats and air mattresses from China and the United States rose. Automobile tires and tubes totaling JY35.683 billion in value were imported from countries such as the United States, Germany, France, Italy and Spain during the period Jan-Aug 1996. It seems that these were used mainly for repairs to imported cars. In the period Jan-Aug 1996, rubber belts with a total value of JY4.324 billion were imported from countries like the United States, Switzerland, Germany, Holland and South Korea. JY2.422 billion worth of rubber hoses were imported during the Jan-Aug 1996, principally from the United States, Germany, Great Britain, Italy and Taiwan. Imports of rubber products are still generally from developed countries, but reverse imports from Japanese companies that have expanded into developed countries account for a significant proportion of imports.
- The expansion of Japanese firms overseas dates back to the 1970s, when they moved into Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea and Taiwan, and with the exception of tires, there was very little production of urethane foam, bicycle tires, industrial rubber, hoses, oil seals, rubber bands, condoms and footwear. From the time of the rise in the yen in the latter half of the 1980s, however, affiliates increasingly began to follow parent companies when they expanded overseas, and in the 1990s their numbers rose sharply. The move to the United States was particularly marked. More recently companies are moving into India, the Philippines, Australia and Canada, etc., and the number of companies moving into and increasing production in China, Thailand and Indonesia due to future market potential is growing rapidly. Automobile tires and tubes always account for the largest proportion of rubber products, and the major manufacturers have expanded their operations overseas as shown below:
| Company |
Location |
Product Line |
Type of Operation |
Start of Operation |
| Bridgestone Corp. |
-Bangkok,Thailand
-Jakarta,Indonesia
-Taoyuan, Taiwan
-Australia
-Tennessee, U.S.A.
-Nashville, U.S.A.
|
-Tires
-Tires
-Tires/tubes
-Tires/auto parts
-Tires/tubes, etc.
-Tires/ind. goods
|
-Joint venture
-Single
-Investment
-Investment
-Acquisition
-Acquisition
|
1969
1973
1972
1965
1990
1990
|
| The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. |
-Europe
-Latin America
-Shenyang, China
-Sharam, Malaysia
-Singapore
-Akron, Ohio, U.S.A.
-Taipei, Taiwan
-California, U.S.A.
-Kentucky, U.S.A.
-Chicago, U.S.A.
|
-Synthetic tires
-Synthetic tires
-Fenders
-Soft urethane foams
-Natural latex rubber
-Radial tires
-Tires
-Tires
-Hose assemblage
-Automobile sealing mat.
|
-Acquisition
-Acquisition
-Joint venture
-Joint venture
-Single
-Joint venture
-Investment
-Acquisition
-Joint venture
-Joint venture
|
1990
1990
1989
1990
1991
1989
1987
1988
|
| Sumitomo Rubber Ind., Ltd. |
-Taiwan
-Ohio, U.S.A.
-Kentucky, U.S.A.
-Melaka, Malaysia
-France
-UK
-Germany
-Buffalo, NY, U.S.A.
|
-High pressure hose
-Rubber hose, high-press. hose
-Hose metal fixtures
-Natural rubber
-Tires/tubes
-Tires/tubes
-Tires/tubes
-Processing of tires, tubes, tires
|
-Investment
-Wholly-owned
-Single
-Joint venture
-Acquisition
-Acquisition
-Acquisition
-Acquisition
|
1990
1992
1989
1989
1984
1984-5
1985
1986
|
| Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd. |
-Wiltshire, UK
-Felshtenbarute, Germany
-Tikanpek, Indonesia
-Penang, Malaysia
-Akron, Ohio, U.S.A.
-Sydney, Australia
-Changhwa, Taiwan
-Melbourne, Australia
-Detroit, Michigan,U.S.A.
-Johore Bahru, Michigan, U.S.A.
|
-Tires
-Tires
-Tires, golf balls
-Household & work. gloves
-Tires
-Vibration isolators, tires, seals
-Vibration isolators
-Rubber for auto parts
-Vibration isolators
-Lining |
-Investment
-Acquisition
-Joint venture
-Joint venture
-Joint venture
-Joint venture
-Joint venture
-Joint venture
-Joint venture
-Joint venture
|
1995
1995
1980
1991
1986
1988
1992
1991
1993
|
A large number of Japanese companies have already expanded overseas, but it is predicted that a rethinking of this policy will see a further increase in the number of companies moving into China and other parts of Asia.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: We would like to thank the Kansai Bureau of The Rubber Times for their valuable help in producing this information. Extensive use of Japan Rubber Industry Association statistics is also gratefully acknowledged.
|
