Japan's Electronics Output Forecast To Rise 6.5% Next Year

By Agence France-Presse Japanese electronics and information technology output is likely to grow 6.5% in 2004 on expected brisk shipments of digital equipment, an industry group said Dec. 17. Total output for 2004 output is forecast at 20.3 trillion yen (US$188 billion), up from an estimated 19.1 trillion yen in 2003, when output grew 5.8% after a 12% drop in 2002, the Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries Association (JEITA) said in a statement. "The favorable demand environment stimulated by digital equipment such as flat-panel televisions and DVD recorders is expected to continue into 2004," JEITA said. In the consumer-electronic equipment segment, production of audio and other basic equipment continues to shift overseas, but domestic output is expected to expand due to demand for high-tech products, such as DVD recorders, digital cameras and car navigation systems, the association said.