Wahi a nā helu helu, ua hana ʻo Iapana i kahi huina o 13,000 tons opaipu kila ʻolei Mei i kēia makahiki, hāʻule i ka 10.4% i hoʻohālikelike ʻia i ka mahina hoʻokahi i ka makahiki i hala.ʻO ka hoʻopuka ʻana i nā mahina ʻelima mua ma kahi o 75,600 tons, kahi emi o ka makahiki ma ka makahiki he 8.8%.

ʻO ka hoʻopuka ʻana o nā paipu kila liʻiliʻi i haʻahaʻa loa i kēia makahiki ma muli o ka emi ʻana o ka hana kaʻa ma muli o ka hemahema o nā semiconductors a me nā ʻāpana, a me nā lā liʻiliʻi o ka hana ma muli o nā lā hoʻomaha.