Exports and domestic forklift sales in Japan dropped 5.3 percent between April and September 2002 to 48,075 units, according to the latest Japan Industrial Vehicles Association (JIVA) report.

Domestic sales stood at 32,496 units, down 9.6 percent on the same period in 2001, while exports stood at 15,579, up five percent from last year, a Japanese News Digest report said. Exports rose due to a steady increase in engine-powered forklift exports since April this year.

Between April and September, domestic sales and exports of battery-powered forklifts stood at 18,983 units, down 9.8 percent from 2001, and at 29,092 units for engine-powered forklifts, down 2.1 percent.