Falling car output dents Japan's metals demand

摘要

Dwindling global demand for new cars is starting to force domestic assembly lines in Japan to shut down, adding further uncertainty to metals demand from the country's manufacturing sector. Japan's biggest car maker Toyota Motor is planning a partial shutdown of its domestic production lines from 3 April because of slowing car demand globally as a result of the coronavirus outbreak. The company plans to temporarily close six production lines at four domestic plants for two to nine days during the first half of April. It also plans to shut one production line at its 50.2pc-owned Hino Motors from 3-6 April.