Thailand
Philippines’ vehicle output, sales trail in ASEAN in 2 months
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines fell behind its Southeast Asian neighbors in motor vehicle assembly, posting the lowest growth in output in the first two months of the year.
Data from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Automotive Federation (AAF) showed the Philippines produced 11,348 motor vehicles in the January to February period, up by just 0.4 percent from the 11,301 units churned out a year ago.
Indonesia posted the highest growth in motor vehicle production in the region at 49.6 percent during the review period, followed by Malaysia (11 percent), Vietnam (11 percent), Myanmar (10.7 percent) and Thailand (1.3 percent).
As of end-February, ASEAN’s motor vehicle production grew 16 percent to 676,620 units from 583,384 units in the same period last year.
In terms of motor vehicle sales, the Philippines was among the Southeast Asian markets that registered a decline as it sold 45,069 units in the January to February period, down 9.2 percent from 49,610 units the previous year.
While Philippine motor vehicle sales declined, Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. president Rommel Gutierrez said earlier the local automotive industry expects to see recovery with the further reopening of the economy as several areas, including the National Capital Region, were placed under the least restrictive Alert Level 1.
“As the economy reopens, the safety and health of the public is paramount to prevent another wave of virus infections and cause disruption anew to the recovery of the industry, which targets to sell 336,000 units this year – a 17 percent increase from the actual volume last year,” he said.
Neighbors that also registered lower motor vehicle sales in the first two months of the year are Myanmar (-29.8 percent) and Singapore (-42.9 percent).
Meanwhile, motor vehicle sales accelerated in the January to February period in Indonesia (61.9 percent), Vietnam (33.8 percent), Thailand (26 percent) and Malaysia (9.7 percent).
Motor vehicle sales in ASEAN rose 26 percent to 500,948 units as of end-February from 397,463 units in the same period a year ago.
AAF data also showed motorcycles and scooters produced in the Philippines dipped 4.5 percent to 156,858 units in the January to February period from the previous year’s 164,308 units.
Other ASEAN countries tracked by AAF also saw a reduction in manufactured motorcycles in the first two months of the year, such as Thailand (-7 percent) and Malaysia (-15 percent).
As of end-February, motorcycles produced in ASEAN slid 7.6 percent to 551,062 units from 596,628 units in the same period last year.
Philippine motorcycle and scooter sales dropped 1.7 percent to 249,440 units in the January to February period from 253,665 units in the same period a year ago.
Of the ASEAN countries covered by the AAF report, only Thailand posted growth in motorcycle and scooter sales at 10.7 percent in the first two months of the year, while Malaysia’s fell 18.2 percent and Singapore’s decreased 3.3 percent.
Motorcycle sales in ASEAN went up slightly to 627,119 units as of end-February from 621,115 units the previous year.
Source: https://www.philstar.com/business/2022/04/04/2171980/philippines-vehicle-output-sales-trail-asean-2-months