Bangkok--3 Aug--Aziam Burson-Marsteller
Asian Honda Motor Co., Ltd., Honda’s Bangkok-based Asia & Oceania Regional Headquarters, today announced the company’s export results for the first half of 2011, which reached 46,061 million baht, 11% down from the same period last year.
The earthquake and tsunami that occurred in Japan on March 11, 2011 impacted Honda's operations in Japan and resulted in an automobile parts supply shortage which effected exports from Thailand. The automobile production in Thailand is now recovering with the expectation is that it will be normalized this September.
Mr. Hiroshi Kobayashi, President & CEO, Asian Honda Motor Co., Ltd., reported that, “While automobile production is recovering, Honda’s exports in the first half are significantly helped by a strong growth in motorcycles, thanks to our motorcycle customers all over the world. With the strong growth of motorcycle exports and the recovery of automobile production, Honda anticipates total exports in 2011 will reach a value of 90,000 million baht, a slight decline of 7% from last year.”
Automobiles:
Total exports of automobile products in the first 6 months of 2011 reached 20,296 million baht, 37% lower than the same period last year. Total Honda CBU exports in first six months declined 48% by volume to 17,441 units or 52% by value to 8,544 million baht, due to a shortage of parts as a result of the tsunami in Japan. Presently, Honda exports 5 models including CITY, JAZZ, CIVIC, ACCORD and CR-V from Thailand to more than 30 countries worldwide. In 2011 Honda has expanded its export market to Mexico by supplying the CITY, with a total 2,430 units in the first 6 months.
Honda CKD exports in first half of 2011 declined 16% by value to 11,752 million baht. The key markets for Honda CKD include ASEAN, India, Pakistan, Taiwan, China, Turkey and Brazil.
Motorcycles:
The total motorcycle CBU and CKD export value in the first half of 2011 achieved significant growth of 44% to 15,306 million baht. Honda exports several models such as the PCX, CBR125R, CBR150R and CBR250R from Thailand to more than 45 countries worldwide, with key markets are in Europe, Japan, the U.S., Australia and ASEAN. The demand for motorcycle CBU remained strong in the first half, with a growth of 224% by volume to 63,022 units and 265% by value to 4,298 million baht. This strong growth reflects the high level of market acceptance of Thai-made motorcycle CBU from customers worldwide particularly in the U.S., Europe and Japan.
Total motorcycle CKD exports in the first half reached 11,008 million baht, 17% up on the same period last year, mainly as a result of market expansion in ASEAN countries.
Power Products:
Thailand is Honda’s largest export production base for power products. Currently, Honda exports a wide range of power products to over 80 countries worldwide with important markets in the Asia-Oceania, the U.S. and Europe. Total exports of power products including CBU and CKD components in the first half of 2011 remained strong with growth of 22% by volume to 1,183,668 units and 23% by value to 7,050 million baht.
Other Exports:
In addition to the three primary export product lines, Honda also exports spare parts, accessories, jigs and molds from Thailand to many global markets. Total exports of these products in the first half of 2011 were up 4% by value to 3,409 million baht.
Honda is one of the world’s leading producers of advanced technology mobility products. It is also the world’s largest manufacturer of clean, fuel-efficient internal combustion engines and the largest producer of motorcycles. Since Honda started exporting from Thailand in 1987, the value and volume of product exports from Thailand has grown consistently. By end of 2011, the cumulative value of Honda exports from Thailand since 1987 is expected to reach 812,505 million baht. Honda will continue maximizing the joy of customers by creating good products with speed, affordability and low CO2 emissions.