A look at the Japanese economy overall after the first 80 days of the war. Most of the major changes to the Japanese economy have been made. Nakajima 35 production is at the level where it will remain, I think, for the duration of the game. Nakajima 45 production continues to expand slowly. I will probably expand Mitsubishi 33 production a little bit more in the coming days.
There has been some minor expansion of light industry and heavy industry. Merchant shipyards have finished their conversions to naval shipyards. Several small naval shipyards have expanded and several repair facilities have expanded. Oil production, outside of Miri, in the occupied territores is nearly 100%. Miri has been repairing oil for a month.
Overall supply levels have become stable and should start growing in the coming months. I have not sent one point of supply to China or Manchuria (and a good bit of supply has been used in expanding a number of things in Korea and Manchuria including ports). Everything on the continent remains in good supply. Supply levels in Luzon have dropped to 65K. Most of the supply on Mindanao has moved forward. Supply is sufficient in Thailand and Malaysia. Semarang in Java is at 40K with more on the way. I am pleased with my supply use so far. Nothing, not 1 point of supply, has been lost at sea.
According to tracker, the empire has used 400K more fuel and oil than it has produced in the first 80 days. This is misleading as most ships are not at 100% fuel, and a good quantity of fuel has been transferred from the less-used merchants to the Adens, Limas, and escort ships. In reality, I have probably used 600K more fuel and oil than I have produced. Fuel levels on Honshu continue to increase. At this point, fuel concerns me more than supply for the long-term. I have not refueled any BBs except the fast BBs. Additional fuel and refining capacity awaits in Java.
Naval shipyards are operating at full capacity with a number of ships accelerated. A small amount of surplus merchant capacity is stockpiling in case emergency accelerations are needed for tankers or additional cargo ships are needed. Heavy industry is stockpiling to support a substantial increase in airframe and engine production as the war continues. Merchant shipyards may be shut off at some point in 1943 or 1944 to support the additional aircraft production. I will continue on with 180 vehicle factories and see how it comes out. I am inclined to increase vehicle and armament production a bit more, but remain undecided. Merchant shipyards can be shutoff later to free up heavy industry for air and ground production, but for the moment, I am content to build a small surplus of merchant shipyard points.
