Auto output drops 11.40% in 2011
Thailand's automotive output in 2011 showed a 11.40 per cent drop on year due to the tsunami and disastrous floods which forced closure of several assembly plants and created serious supply-chain disruptions.
According to the Federation of Thai Industries' Automotive Industry Club, the total output in the year totalled 1.458 million.
The output dropped sharply in March when tsunami hit Japan and in October and November when floods hit Ayutthaya, where a number of automotive plants are located.
Of total, 733,950 were manufactured for export, accounting for 50.35 per cent of total. This showed a 17.97 per cent drop from a year earlier. Domestic demand decreased as slightly as 0.80 per cent, as 794,081 vehicles were sold in 2011.
However, engine exports were valued at Bt26.7 billion, up 23.41 per cent from the previous year. While component export value dropped 1.90 per cent on year to Bt140.57 billion, parts export value went up 13.75 per cent to Bt16.44 billion.
