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Data released by the economy, trade and industry ministry had initially shown a month-on-month rise of 2.0 percent. Japan's factory production in December rose a revised 3.8 percent from the previous month. The main contributors to the rise were the transport sector, information and communications, and the steel industry, the ministry said. A ministry survey of producers showed industrial output was expected to grow 1.7 percent in February and another 1.7 percent in March. Preliminary figures for February are expected to be released on March 30.