Industrial output in Japan rose in March for the first time in six months, according to government figures.

据日本官方数据显示，三月份的工业出口额在过去的六个月中首次增长。

Japan's exports have been hit by a collapse¹ in demand

Production rose by 1.6% in March compared to February, after months of dramatic decline.

The larger-than-expected increase is being seen as a sign that the country's plunge² in production and exports may be nearing an end.

The world's second biggest economy has been hit hard by the global downturn, sliding into a sharp recession.

These are grim（冷酷的，残忍的） times for Japan's economy but the latest figures from the government show a small improvement.

But the new figures are a sign that the strategy of Japan's manufacturers - to mothball（保存） production lines, reduce shifts and lay off staff - may be working.

With stockpiles（囤储物资） of unsold goods diminishing（逐渐缩小的） some factories are starting to come back to life.

Japan has been hit badly by the downturn because worldwide demand has collapsed³ for its cars and electronics.

The increase follows figures earlier this month showing that exports have also risen slightly, although shipments are still running at just over half the levels of a year ago.

A government survey of manufacturers showed they expect industrial production to continue to rise, by 4.3% during April and by 6.1% in May.