Four of Japan's eight major automakers saw a decline in their global output in fiscal 2021 that ended in March. The main cause was a shortage of semiconductors around the world.

Mazda, Nissan and Subaru suffered a double-digit decline from the previous year while Honda saw an 8-percent drop. Their major parts suppliers in southeast Asia were hit especially hard by the coronavirus outbreak.

The other automakers reported an increase in output. Mitsubishi saw a jump of almost 26 percent while figures for Daihatsu and Suzuki also rose. They rebounded from sharp falls in fiscal 2020.

Toyota's global production was up nearly 5 percent backed by growth in North America and Asia. But its domestic output fell to a 45-year low partly due to parts shortages.

An air of uncertainty continues to linger over the automakers. Some factories in Japan had to suspend operations this month after logistics were disrupted at parts suppliers in Shanghai. The Chinese city saw a resurgence of the pandemic.