Japan's industrial production climbed 3.6 % in March, the Japanese government said Thursday. 
The figure beat the average estimate of 2.9% increase polled by the Nikkei business daily and followed a 5.2% fall in February. 
The index of production at factories and mines stood at 96.6 against a 2010 baseline of 100, the Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said, saying industrial output "fluctuates indecisively." Transport equipment, fabricated metals, and general-purpose, production and business-oriented machinery industries contributed to the bulk of the rise, the ministry said. 
Manufacturers expect industrial production to rise 2.6 % in April and fall 2.3 % in May, according to the ministry's survey. 
The index of industrial shipments edged up 1.4 % in March from the previous month to 94.1, and that of industrial inventories rose 2.8 % to 115.3.