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Auto imports increase despite falling sales
Imports of cars and car parts increased last month despite the fact that consumption strongly dropped in April.
The General Department of Customs reported that by the end of April, the country’s total import turnover on auto and auto parts had reached US$505 million.
In April, about 4,450 autos mostly from other parts of Asia, were imported, an increase of 4.3 per cent over March, the department said.
Over the first four months of the year, South Korea was the biggest exporter to the Vietnamese auto market with 8,200 units. Next was Japan with 1,400, China with 737 and the United States with 641. Import turnover for the 12,200 autos brought into the country since January is $220 million.
Last month, the country spent around $96.7 million on imported auto parts, up 18.8 per cent over March. This brought the total spent over four months to $285 million.
During April, however, members of the Viet Nam Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (VAMA) could sell only 7,711 autos, a drop of 42 per cent over the same month in 2008 and a drop of 32 per cent from March this year.
Sales for almost all car companies saw reductions in April. Ford sales dropped by 59 per cent, Honda and Visuco sales dropped by 55 per cent and 46 per cent, respectively.
Mercedes Benz Viet Nam was the only company to see a sales increase in April.
Experts predict that the import volumes and sales will increase in May, because a 50 per cent reduction in auto registration fees was implemented at the beginning of May. The new registration fee is now 6 per cent.
vietnamnews
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