BANGKOK: Vehicle exports in March accelerated to 104,006 units, increasing 16.38 per cent year on year – the highest in the past two years thanks to a slowly recovering global economy, the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) reported.
“Overseas markets are steadily recovering, especially Australia, New Zealand, Asia and Europe, which are expanding around 40-50 per cent compared to the previous year, ” said Surapong Paisitpattanapong, vice president and spokesman of the automobile chapter of the FTI.
“Motorcycle exports in March also jumped, to 101,634 units, increasing 16.53 per cent year on year, ” he said.
In the first quarter of 2021, vehicle exports totalled 258,108 units worth more than Bt143 billion, increasing 11.05 per cent year on year, while 269,472 motorcycles were exported, netting over Bt24.65 billion and increasing 17.04 per cent year on year.
“There is a high probability that the value of vehicle exports throughout the year will exceed Bt1 trillion, depending on the Covid-19 situation globally, ” Surapong said.
“We also hope the markets that are currently contracting, such as the Middle East, Africa and the North and South Americas will be able to expand in the second half of the year.”
Meanwhile, March saw domestic vehicle sales of 74,925 units, increasing 25.47 per cent year on year, and domestic motorcycle sales of 169,672 units, rising 15.63 per cent year on year.
The FTI also reported that 162,515 vehicles were manufactured in March, a 10.7 per cent increase year on year.
“In the first quarter total vehicle manufacturing was recorded at 465,833 units, about 58 per cent of which were exported, ” Surapong said.
“We estimate that the total manufacturing output this year will reach 1.5 million units, slightly more than last year’s output of 1.4 million, ” he added. — The Nation/Asia News Network
