Japan's industrial production increases 2.7 pct on month in December

The ministry's preliminary report said the output at factories and mines stood at 106.3 against the base of 100 for 2010 on a seasonally adjusted basis.

The index of industrial shipments rose 2.7 percent to 103.9, the ministry's data showed, while the inventories' index retreated 0.4 percent to 109.4.

Based on the latest data, the ministry opted to maintain its assessment that industrial production is "picking up" in Japan.

As for the outlook for factory output here, manufactures said they expect production to drop 4.3 percent in January, however, before rebounding in February with output projections at 5.7 percent.