TOKYO, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- Japan's industrial output fell 2.3 percent in November from the previous month, marking the first decline in three months, government data showed.
The seasonally adjusted index of production at factories and mines stood at 101.7 against the 2020 base of 100, a preliminary report from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry showed Friday.
The drop followed a downwardly revised 2.8 percent increase in October, affected by slowing exports of semiconductor manufacturing devices and cars, the ministry said.
Overall, of the 15 industrial sectors surveyed, 11 including production machinery and motor vehicles saw output falls, while three, including general-purpose and business-oriented machinery, registered increases.
Production machinery contributed significantly to the overall output decline with a 9.1 percent drop due to slipping exports of chip-making devices, the data showed.
The ministry retained its basic assessment of industrial production from the previous month, saying it "fluctuates indecisively," with output expected to rise in December and January, likely led by production machinery and transport equipment. ■
