Total global production by eight major Japanese automakers in April fell 20.1 percent from a year earlier to 1.66 million vehicles, industry data showed Monday, reflecting a worldwide semiconductor shortage and supply disruptions caused by a COVID-19 lockdown in Shanghai.

Of the eight, six automakers, including Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co., marked declines. Toyota saw a 9.1 percent fall to 692,259 cars, the first decrease in three months and below its forecast of about 750,000 units.

Toyota and other automakers have been forced to curb production due to a shortage of semiconductors, which are used in a wide range of products such as automobiles, air conditioners and smartphones, as demand has increased on the back of accelerating digitalization.

Honda's global output slipped 54.2 percent on its slower production in China. Mazda Motor Corp. and Nissan Motor Co. also saw declines of 49.9 percent and 26.5 percent, respectively.

In contrast, Subaru Corp.'s worldwide output grew 63.3 percent last month for the first rise in three months.

That of Daihatsu Motor Co. accelerated 4.1 percent, lifted by increasing production in Indonesia and Malaysia.

Toyota said its global sales in April dropped 11.1 percent from a year earlier to 763,708 vehicles, declining for the eighth straight month.

Its sales in Japan sank 16.8 percent to 103,143 units, including those of minivehicles, while its domestic output fell 9.0 percent to 243,425 vehicles in the reporting month.

Toyota's overseas sales fell 10.2 percent to 660,565 vehicles, while output declined 9.1 percent to 448,834 units.

By region, Toyota's sales in China plunged 30.7 percent to 111,134 vehicles on weakening demand following a COVID-19 lockdown in Shanghai. Output in the country dived 33.8 percent to 93,297 units, affected by a plant closure in Changchun.

In North America, sales fell 19.7 percent to 218,837 vehicles in April from a year earlier, while production dropped 7.1 percent to 153,154 units, also impacted by the shortage of components.

"Conditions remain unclear regarding trends for both COVID-19 and parts supplies, but we will continue to make every effort to minimize the impact," Toyota said in a statement.