Sawt Falasteen - Toyota keeps net profit forecast despite production woes

The world's top-selling automaker said it now expects to sell half a million fewer vehicles in the current financial year because of the global chip shortage and other problems.

"It is still difficult to predict the future due to risks such as procurement of semiconductors. Therefore, we decided to revise our (full-year production) plan to 9.2 million units," the company said in a statement.

The weak yen should help inflate revenues, however, and the carmaker now predicts annual sales worth 36 trillion yen ($240 billion), up from the previous forecast of 34.5 trillion yen.

Japanese exporters have reaped the benefits of a cheaper yen, which has lost more than 20 percent of its value against the dollar this year.

Buoyed by forex rates, Toyota had in August upgraded its full-year net profit forecast to 2.36 trillion yen, which it maintained on Tuesday.

The company said higher material costs pushed down its profits in North America in the first half, while business in Europe was affected by its decision to pull out of Russia.

Toyota announced in September its decision to end production in Russia, citing supply chain problems.

S.AbuJamous--SF-PST