Japan bounces back from quake, floods

But trade frictions remain a concern

TOKYO: Japan’s economy bounced back in the fourth quarter as business and consumer spending recovered from the impact of natural disasters but trade frictions and a proposed sales tax hike are expected to hinder growth in 2019.

The 1.4% annualised expansion in October-December matched the median estimate in a Reuters poll. It also followed an upwardly revised 2.6% annualised contraction in July-September as floods and an earthquake temporarily halted production.

Real exports rose 0.9% in October-December from the previous quarter, the data from the Cabinet Office showed, the fastest growth in a year.

Despite the increase in shipments, economists remain concerned that exports will weaken this year if the United States and China do not resolve their trade dispute.

“The numbers have rebounded, but Japan is still an economy that is losing momentum,” said Hiroshi Miyazaki, senior economist at Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities.

“The longer trade friction lasts, the more incentive Japanese companies have to halt capex. Trade friction means weaker exports. Japan’s overall growth this year won’t be as quick as last year or the year prior.”

GDP rose 0.3% versus the previous quarter, slightly less than the median estimate for 0.4% growth. That followed a downwardly revised 0.7% contraction in July-September.

In September a large earthquake triggered a blackout in the northern island of Hokkaido, which followed severe typhoons that damaged airports and transport infrastructure in western Japan.

Businesses were quick to resume normal operations after these disasters.

Capital expenditure was the biggest driver of growth in October-December, rising 2.4% as companies spent on manufacturing equipment and heavy

construction machinery. That compares with as 2.7% contraction in the previous quarter.

Private consumption, which accounts for about 60% of GDP, was the second-biggest driver of growth. Consumption rose 0.6% in OctoberDecember, less than the 0.8% increase expected and followed a 0.2% decline in the previous quarter.

Consumption was driven by spending on hotels and dining out, but that was partly a rebound from a decline in the previous quarter due to the natural disasters, a Cabinet Office official said.

“The economy is in gradual recovery as growth is led by private demand,” Japanese Economy Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said in a statement.

“China-bound exports of information-related materials have weakened as the Chinese economy slowed. We need to monitor uncertainty over global economic outlook including Chinese economy as well as fluctuations in financial markets.”

External demand — or exports minus imports — shaved 0.3 percentage point off gross domestic product, less than the median estimate of minus 0.4%. A breakdown of the data showed a 2.7% jump in imports due to increased shipments of mobile phones and clothes from overseas more than offset the increase in exports.

Despite the rise in exports, the trade war between the United States and China, the world’s two largest economies, is seen as a major risk for Japan’s exports of car parts, electronics, and heavy machinery to China, which are used to make finished goods destined for the United States and other markets.

“We expect exports for JanuaryMarch will deteriorate as shipments of IT-related products to Asian nations, especially to China, will likely fall as the adverse impact from trade conflict appears,” said Hiroaki Muto, chief economist at Tokai Tokyo Research Institute.

“The economy for January-March is expected to grow but the global economic slowdown and a planned sales tax hike will hurt.”

Another risk is the Japanese government’s plan to raise the nationwide sales tax to 10% from 8% in October.