TOKYO- Japan’s factory production likely rose in February for the first time in three months as supply constraints eased slightly, a Reuters poll showed, but analysts say the Ukraine crisis poses downside risks to the outlook.
Industrial production likely increased 0.5 percent in February from the previous month, the median forecast in the poll of 18 economists showed on Friday.
That would mark the first growth in three months and follow a 0.8 percent fall in January.
“The impact of semiconductor and component shortage was still remaining, especially among automakers, but the situation apparently eased compared from January,” said Shumpei Fujita, an economist at Mitsubishi UFJ Research and Consulting.
Still, he said output was probably weaker in the current month and beyond, referring to a series of disruptions to Japan Inc’s production including from a cyberattack and an earthquake.
