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FTI predicts 11.7% growth |
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Local automobile production for export this year is expected to reach 777,000 units, an increase of 11.7% from the previous year, according to Surapong Phaisitpattanapong, a spokesman for the automobile industry club of the Federation of Thai Industries. The growth would come partly because of free trade pacts, especially with Australia. However, exports to Asia would grow only slightly due to the continued sluggish economy in the region, the FTI believes. Automobile production for the domestic market this year is projected to grow by 9.83% from 2007 to 657,000 units. In total, local automobile production for export and domestic sales is projected to reach 1.427 million units, with the export proportion 54%. Toyota would lead the exports this year, followed by Mitsubishi, said Mr Surapong. In January, automobile production totalled 108,129 units, up 25.1% year-on-year. Of the total, 63,694 units were produced for export and 46,069 for domestic sales. Production of cars in January totalled 28,048 units, up 28.4% while that of one-ton pickup trucks totalled 78,349 units, up 24.4%. Production of cars for the domestic market in January totalled 13,229 units, up 17.6% while that of one-ton pickups for domestic sale totalled 29,474 units, up 0.07%. Mr Surapong said exports of Thai-made automobiles in January rose 43.7% year-on-year to 58,510 units while the export value rose 46.5 to 26.85 billion baht. When exports of engines, kits and parts were taken into account, the value rose 43.4% to 38,46 billion baht.
Exports of motorcycles in both fully built and kit forms in January
totalled 130,317 units, up 1.9% but the export value rose 20.1% to 1.96
billion baht.
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Bangkok Post, 03.03.2008/Autobiz Autobiz, vol. 7, No. 71 February 2008 |
