HTH -- Haiti Earthquake

April 20, 2011. Japanese exports fall in 2011 following earthquake and tsunami

SOURCE: Altegrity Risk International

Japanese exports fell by 2.2% in March 2011 due to the 9.0-magnitude earthquake and attendant tsunami, as well as the nuclear crisis that followed, the finance ministry said on April 20th. Shipments of cars fell by 28% as the disaster created a shortfall in parts and a production shutdown; the shipment of semiconductor products and electronics fell by 6.9%. The disruption in the supply chain was detrimental for the recovery of Japan's manufacturing sector. Officials warned, however, that numbers were likely to worsen in the months to come as some manufacturers in March 2011 were able to keep up limited output thanks to stocks. Another issue crippling the Japanese economy is the shortage of power.