Nissan has recorded its first increase for six months in vehicle exports from Japan, with a rise in May of 19.5% year-on-year to 41,321 units. During the first five months of the year, however, global exports from the country were still down to 186,679 units, a decline of 13.5% compared with the same period last year.
The biggest increase in exports was to Europe, up over 50% in both May and the first five months of this year. Nissan exported almost 7,000 vehicles to Europe in May and 34,735 over the first five months of 2016.
North America took more than 20,000 Nissan vehicles from Japan in May, an increase of 22%, though for the first five months the figure was down more than 33% to 64,468, compared to the same period last year.
Exports to other parts of the world over the first five months of the year were down 9.2% to around 87,500. During May, however, they rose around 6% to 14,286.
Meanwhile, Nissan's global production in May increased 0.4% year-on-year to 435,938 units. Production in Japan decreased 2.5% year-on-year to 65,309 units in May and it also recorded small decreases in the US, Mexico and China for the month. In the UK however, production increased 12.1% year-on-year to 43,175 units, while in Spain, production rose 11.2% year-on-year to 11,877 units.
Nissan is now making the Rogue crossover SUV at its plant in Kyushu, Japan, for export to North America this year. Annual production of 100,000 units at the Japanese plant will complement production of the popular model at its Tennessee plant in the US, which is at maximum capacity.
The carmaker recently released its annual sustainability report, which showed that the level of CO² emissions at its facilities was 22.4% lower than in 2005.
