Industrial production fell a seasonally adjusted 1.7 percent in February from the previous month after posting a 1.5 percent rise in January, prompting the government to say it remains on a weakening trend.
The index of output at mines and factories stood at 96.0 against the 1995 base of 100, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said in a preliminary report.
A METI official said the current state of industrial production is "moving on a weak note," unchanged from the last assessment.