Auto exports in August highest in 25 years despite reduced domestic sales

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Thailand’s automobile exports last month reached their highest figure ever at more than 103,000 units, the highest since the country began producing vehicles for export in 1988.

Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) automotive industry group spokesman Surapong Paisitpattanapong said that the total of 103,065 units was a 17-percent increase year-on-year and a 24-percent increase from July this year. The auto export value in August reached Bt47.9 billion, or a 12-percent growth year-on-year.

According to Surapong, the export value for automobiles, engines and spare parts reached Bt68.6 billion, a growth of 12 percent from the same period last year.

Thailand exported 720,141 cars from January through August this year, counting for 97 percent of car production for export, a 12-percent increase year-on-year, with an export value at Bt328.4 billion, or an increase of 7 percent.

In August alone, 193,074 vehicle units were produced, a decrease of 9.9 percent year-on-year, while the production figure in the first eight months reached over 1.7 million units, an increase of 16.4 percent compared to same period last year.