Tokyo, Jan. 30 (Bloomberg) -- Japan's 11 automakers reduced auto exports last year to their lowest level since 1996, as Toyota Motor Corp. and other carmakers shifted production to lower-cost factories abroad. In December alone, exports fell for a second month, dropping 11 percent to 326,891 units. For the year, exports fell 6.5 percent to 4,166,169 units, the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association said. The figures ``show the signs of an increase in overseas production by the automakers, which will naturally cause exports to fall,'' said Akihide Kinugawa, who helps manage 20 billion yen ($151 million) at Daido Life Investment Management Co. ``The automakers are doing very well in the U.S., although the situation in Europe is still bad.'' Japanese automakers have been building plants overseas to bring products closer to markets, especially in North America, and reduce costs. The tumbling yen, which sharpens the competitiveness of Japanese factories, is yet to slow the trend of transferring output abroad. The yen dropped about 13 percent against the dollar last year. Mitsubishi Motors Corp., Japan's No. 4 automaker, reported the biggest export drop in December, with shipments down 39 percent. It was also posted the largest drop among the five biggest automakers for the whole year, with exports down 22 percent to 369,954 vehicles. Of the big five, all of which reported export figures last week, only Mazda Motor Corp. reported an increase of exports in 2001, with the tally rising 2.1 percent to 478,929 vehicles. Mitsubishi Motor shares fell as much 2.1 percent to 238 yen, while Mazda shares fell as much as 3 percent to 262 yen.

Motorcycles, Others
Japan's motorcycle exports fell 3.9 percent in 2001 to 1,577,413 units. In December alone, they fell 18 percent to 133,517 units. Auto exports by Isuzu Motors Ltd. fell 17 percent in December to 11,222 vehicles. For all 2001, exports from Japan by the 49 percent owned unit of General Motors Corp. fell 19 percent to 156,971 units. Suzuki Motors Corp. shipped 13.2 percent fewer autos abroad in December, or 17,293. For all 2001, the automaker, 20 percent owned by General Motors, exported 253,978 vehicles, or 5 percent more than in 2000. Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd., the maker of Subaru cars, said exports fell 11 percent to 12,450 units last month, compared with the same month a year earlier. For all 2001, the automaker's exports rose 3.8 percent to 174,893 vehicles. Hino Motors Ltd., Japan's biggest truckmaker, said exports fall 0.8 percent last month to 1,304 units, while for all 2001, shipments abroad rose 5.8 percent to 18,673 units.

By Region
Japan's exports to the rest of Asia fell 41 percent last month to 19,102 vehicles, the biggest drop among regions. Shipments to Asian markets fell 15 percent for the whole year to 351,227 units. The North American market was the biggest importer from Japan, with auto shipments in December down 8.1 percent to 140,553 vehicles. For all 2001, the region imported almost 1.8 million vehicles, down 2.2 percent for the year. Europe imported 895,415 autos from Japan last year, down 21 percent from 2000. In December alone, the region imported 73,439 vehicles, down 20 percent from a year earlier. Among the other regions, only the Middle East increased auto imports from Japan in both December and for all 2001. Last year, the region imported 381,965 vehicles, or 29 percent more than in 2000.