Thai auto output rose more than 8 percent

BANGKOK, Thailand's auto market may rebound in the second half of the year after a positive sign based on output growth in March.

Automotive industry club of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) reported on Wednesday that car production rose to its highest level in 30 last month, 192 to 811 units, up 8.19 percent from the same period last year.

Surapong Paisitpatanapong spokesman club industry, said output for sales in Thailand rose all types passenger cars and pickup trucks pickup passenger (PPVs).

Car output was produced for domestic sales amounted to 43.3 percent of total output in March an increase compared with 31.9 percent in January and 37.1 percent in February.

Surapong said: 'These figures show the situation better, most of the car market due to the recovery of demand customers. Sales apparently higher is likely to start in June next.

Industry Club, said vehicle sales in Thailand in March, still down, down 2, 3% to 72 404 units. Sales in the first quarter totaled 181 318 units, down 8.3 percent.

Exports were down 14.33 percent in March compared with the same period last year to 109 334 units an amount equal to 57.34 billion baht, up 0.39 percent.

In the first three months of this year, exports fell 6.24 percent to 307 760 units worth 163.55 billion baht, up 11.35 percent.

Export volume in the amount of increase is mostly due to premium cars such as pickup passenger (PPVs).

Surapong said that exports are a concern because the majority of exports to the continent except Asia and Oceania dropped . Eco demand from Europe and North America is declining too.

Asia, Oceania and the Middle East currently accounts for 75 percent of Thailand's total exports.

Federation of Thai Industries has forecast that domestic sales from 75 thousand to 78 thousand units this year down from 2.5 percent to 6.2 percent from a year earlier and a decline for 4 consecutive years.