Thai H1 2018 car sales up 19.3%, production up 11.1%

Thai H1 2018 car sales up 19.3%, production up 11.1%

The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) has an optimistic outlook for the country’s automotive industry, the Bangkok Post reports. This is as the country posted growth in production, domestic sales and exports in the first half of 2018.

Last week, the FTI’s automotive industry club reported strong performance in June, where production increased 7.7% to 188,970 units, buoyed by pick-up trucks for exports.

“The export outlook has performed better than expected as the country’s main destination, the Middle East, has resumed economic growth on rising oil prices,” said spokesman Surapong Paisitpatanapong. Domestic sales in June jumped 25.9% to 87,854 units, up 3.4% month-on-month.

Thai H1 2018 car sales up 19.3%, production up 11.1%

Boosted by June figures, total production in the first half of 2018 is up 11.1% year-on-year to 1.057 million vehicles. Car sales in Thailand ended H1 2018 with 489,118 units, which is 19.3% y-o-y growth. Exports grew 4.8% in the first six months of the year to 561,960 units, valued at 290.892 billion baht (+2.6%).

Despite the stronger than expected performance so far, the auto industry club is yet to officially revise upwards the projections for the full year, and will make a final decision this week. The tentative full year 2018 projection is 2.1 million total production (from 2m), domestic sales of 960,000-980,000 (from 900k) and exports of 1.12 million (from 1.1m).

The strong showing is attributed to factors such as government spending, private sector investment, new car models, growing consumer confidence, an uptick in the construction sector, recovery in farm output prices, healthy imports/exports, poverty reduction measures and a bullish tourism sector.

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Danny Tan

Danny Tan loves driving as much as he loves a certain herbal meat soup, and sweet engine music as much as drum beats. He has been in the auto industry since 2006, previously filling the pages of two motoring magazines before joining this website. Enjoys detailing the experience more than the technical details.

 

Comments

  • Dtctr on Jul 23, 2018 at 6:54 pm

    that Civic in Modelissta kit a real looker!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 0
  • Rajoo Selvam on Jul 23, 2018 at 7:57 pm

    The FTI are very lucky because Thailand has become the Detroit of Asia.

    Malaysia was supposed to be the Detroit of Asia because 80s and 90s we the CKD Capital of Asia.

    Unfortunately, because of Proton and the protectionism given to Proton, car companies decided to set up shop in Thailand.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 3
  • What a coincidence with malaysia

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
    • Thailand car sales is double of msia. But we see growing MY consumer confidence yo’

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 4
  • Danny Ong on Jul 23, 2018 at 9:03 pm

    Nice CHR Hybrid

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • Sari Merong Mahavamsa on Jul 23, 2018 at 10:11 pm

    how many units of tuk-tuk sold?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 3
    • Serong on Jul 24, 2018 at 11:51 am

      Syukurr mesia ade saga..

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 1
    • HajiSamuri on Jul 24, 2018 at 1:51 pm

      Look at how many cars they exported. Far more than the cars sold there. Probably only 50 tuk tuks sold.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • My eyes on Jul 24, 2018 at 6:41 am

    That is an ugly bodykit for the C-HR. Yuck!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 5
  • Jeffrey Chew on Jul 24, 2018 at 10:07 am

    1.12m units exported. Wow… Thank you Proton

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
    • Not Toyota Fan on Jul 24, 2018 at 11:09 am

      Thailand ranks #15 in 2017 Top 15 vehicles exported (by USD). Only 3 Asian countries made the list, Japan (#2 $93.4 Billion) South Korea (#7 $38.8 Billion) & Thailand (#15 $10.9 Billion). Thailand growth since 2013 is +64.1%.

      Source: World’s Top Export (WTEx) June 23, 2018. Car Exports by Country.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
  • Not all good on Jul 24, 2018 at 11:24 am

    Yet, Thai car prices is still one of highest relative to income per capita.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 1
    • TheDean on Jul 24, 2018 at 11:56 am

      Thai car prices higher yet sold more than Msia.
      Thai richer than Msia. Fullstop

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 0
      • 70 million ppl versus 30 mil. Red apple to green apple comparison

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 2
        • Truman on Jul 24, 2018 at 1:53 pm

          Have you been to Bangkok? More expensive cars seen there than KL

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
  • Mikey on Jul 24, 2018 at 11:34 am

    Good news for Tomyam country BUT bad news for Nasi Lemak land bcoz Tomyam country is flourishing while Nasi Lemak land is losing its edge.

    If only we have a friendlier investment policy with car manufacturer’s, we could have been exporting those vehicles of more than 500,00(H1) units not to mention foreign exchange gains, income & jobs. So sad

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 3
    • Oso if locals here willing to work for Rm2000/mth in rotating shift work, but nobody in MY will do it lor. So even if without Tomyam and Indomee, they still wun come here.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 2
      • U-Tuber on Jul 24, 2018 at 12:40 pm

        Locals snowflake gen.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 10 Thumb down 0
      • Mikey on Jul 24, 2018 at 1:44 pm

        If locals are paid RM2,000/mth that comes with accommodations, sick leaves, EPF, SOCSO, food, recreations & health benefits, am sure many will work in the factory.
        Isn’t that is better than wasting times “Lepaking” or not working! That will mop out many unemployed Right!

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 2
        • Nope. Even factories I know offering Rm2500/mth, veli few takers and then mostly chow after 1 month. In the end hire Nepals & Banglas. Add on OT and weekend allowance, their pay even higher than manager but locals still hi keras dun wan.

          Like this they rather go to low cost countries and setup factory there instead, Right!!

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
      • TomyamGoong on Jul 25, 2018 at 3:30 pm

        Tomyam dont want to work here also. The salary is peanuts. All of them working in Singapore. Only the kampung Tomyam working here as masseuse.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • Malaysia better.

      https://paultan.org/2015/12/08/malaysia-eev-incentives-better-than-thailands-fs/

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 0
  • Seow Ta Long on Jul 25, 2018 at 3:30 pm

    Rubbish Thatiland car, more expensive than Japan car! stupid

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 1
 

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