The latest information from the Japan Industrial Vehicles Association (JIVA) shows the country's forklift makers are headed for about 10 per cent growth in production from 2003.

The latest figures, for September, show Japanese forklift companies made 3986 electric forklifts and 7889 internal combustion forklifts, for a total monthly production of 11,875 machines, up 8 per cent on September 2003.

September was the country's highest-producing month, but the highest year-on-year increase was experienced in June, when 11,271 machines were built, eclipsing the June 2003 production by 33 per cent.

In September, Japan's forklift makers shipped 3544 electric machines, 1904 gasoline forklifts and 2411 diesel forklifts for a total of 4825, 10.1 per cent above the September 2003 shipments.

So far this year, as at September, Japan has shipped 25,036 electric forklifts, 14,283 gasoline forklifts and 16,555 diesel forklifts, totalling 55,874 machines, or a 9.9 per cent overall increase on 2003.