Japan's capacity utilization fell on a monthly basis due to a decline in the electronic components and devices industry, according to data from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) released on Friday.
The indicator slipped 0.8% month on month to 102.9 in April against the 2020 baseline of 100, reflecting that capacity use remained above its baseline level despite slowing from 103.7 in the previous month.
It missed market expectations for a 2% rise, according to Trading Economics.
Capacity utilization in the electronic components and devices industry slid 5.2%, according to the ministry.
Electrical machinery capacity utilization fell 5.2%, while capacity in the electrical and information and communication machinery industry slipped 1.1%.
In the non-ferrous metal segment, capacity utilization slipped 1.7%, while the general-purpose and business-oriented machinery segment saw a 1.5% fall.
Japan's industrial production rose 2% year over year in April, slowing from the 2.4% expansion in March.
On a month-over-month basis, factory output edged up 0.5% to 102.5 during the month, reversing the 0.4% drop in the previous month.
The reading missed market expectations of a 0.8% increase tracked by Investing.com.
Transport equipment saw industrial production jump 15.2% year over year, while business-oriented machinery industrial production increased 15.1% year over year.
General-purpose and business-oriented machinery grew 8.2%.
Inorganic and organic chemicals slid 18.5% year over year, while that of petroleum and coal products fell 10.8%.
