Bangkok--28 Oct--Aziam Burson-Marsteller
First 9 months result exceeds 50 billion Baht; exports in Q4 will continue improving
Asian Honda Motor Co., Ltd., today announced that total exports of Honda’s products from Thailand in the first 9 months of 2009 had a total value of 51,459 million Baht, representing a decline of 37% from the same period last year, while Honda’s Q3 2009 result increased from the previous two quarters. Honda estimates that exports in Q4 will continue to improve. Total exports at the end of 2009 are anticipated to exceed 70,000 million baht, but still fall 32% from last year.
Mr. Fumihiko Ike, President & CEO, Asian Honda Motor Co., Ltd., said that “Honda's exports from Thailand in Q3 2009 reached 20,067 million baht, 21% down from the same period last year. When compared with results for Q1 and Q2 which fell 40% and 46% respectively, our Q3 performance represents a significant improvement as the global economic situation started to recover. Meanwhile, we are continuing to develop new products in order to ensure our competitiveness in the global market. Last September Honda launched the new PCX scooter model in Thailand as a world premier. The PCX is equipped with new advanced technologies that provide high performance and an improved rider experience. Thailand will soon begin production and export of this model to many leading countries worldwide. This is further proof of Thailand’s competitiveness as the global manufacturing base.”
Automobile:In the first 9 months, the total value of Honda’s automobile CBU and CKD exports declined 39% to 31,781 million baht. While total exports of automobile products in Q3 valued 13,240 million baht, down 17% from the same period last year. This shows that the export situation is improving. Particularly the export value of automobile CKD components in Q3 reached 6,824 million baht, 3% up from the same period last year, thanks to an increase in production volume in many Asian countries. For automobile CBU exports, Honda exported a total of 30,052 units in the first 9 months. City is the most successful export model representing 11,505 units, followed by 7,484 units of Civic and 5,189 units of Jazz. These 3 models account for 80.5% of the total volume. It clearly indicates the growing trend toward small passenger cars in the world market. Currently, Honda exports automobile CBU from Thailand to over 40 countries worldwide.
Motorcycle:The total value of motorcycle CBU and CKD exports in the first 9 months declined 35% from the same period last year to 11,189 million baht, while exports in Q3 dropped 28% to 3,998 million baht. Within motorcycle exports, CKD components have shown signs of recovery, mainly contributed by higher demand in key markets such as Vietnam and Indonesia. Thailand will serve as the global manufacturing base for the PCX and is planning to begin exports of PCX to ASEAN member countries in early 2010 as well as leading countries in other regions including Japan, Europe and the U.S.
Power Product:
Thailand serves as Honda’s largest export manufacturing base for power products. Currently, Honda exports power products from Thailand to over 80 countries worldwide with the key markets being the U.S. and Europe. In the first 9 months Honda exported 933,285 units of power products with a total value of 5,697 million baht, 28% down from the same period last year. Exports in Q3 declined 16% from the same period last year to 1,925 million baht on total volume of 321,456 units. In spite of declines of demand in key markets including the U.S. and Europe, the recognized high quality of Honda’s products has helped it expand power product exports within the Asian region to countries such as Vietnam, Indonesia, Taiwan and Korea.
Others:In addition to its three primary export product lines, Honda also exports spare parts, accessories, jigs and molds from Thailand to many global markets. While the export of spare parts remained strong in the first 9 months, with a total value of 1,769 million baht or a 14% increase from the same period last year, the export of accessories, jigs and molds declined in line with the global economic downturn. As a result, the export value of all the other products in the first 9 months decreased 27% to 2,792 million baht.
Honda is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of mobility with advanced technologies. It is the world’s largest manufacturer of clean, fuel-efficient internal combustion engines and the largest manufacturer of motorcycles. Honda started its exports from Thailand in 1987. By the end of 2009, Honda in Thailand estimates its cumulative exports to reach 625,665 million Baht worth of automobiles, motorcycles and power products to over 80 countries worldwide.
Media information, please contact: Ref: 2009-035-271009
Asian Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
Anjali Jalichandra Tel. (0) 2236-0256 ext 1500 Email: [email protected]
Waraporn Pongpaiboon Tel. (0) 2236-0256 ext 1552 Email: [email protected]
Aziam Burson-Marsteller
Satida Sritunyatorn Tel. (0) 2252 9871 Email: [email protected]
Jaruwan Vorarakthananun Tel. (0) 2252 9871 Email: [email protected]