Exports of built-up motor vehicles, which have been the stars in the South African automotive firmament for the past few years, have been dimmed severely by the global economic meltdown.The export volume has shrunk 36 per cent in the first six months of 2009, when compared to the same period a year earlier. Of particular concern is that the figure in June 2009 of 11 760 units was 52,5 per cent lower than for the corresponding month in 2008 and 13,5 per cent below the May 2009 figure.
BMW and Mercedes-Benz had the lowest falls among the volume exporters, with Toyota and Volkswagen shipping significantly lower volumes.
Toyota continued to set the pace though, with 30 012 Hilux and Corolla units exported, compared to 54 468 for the first half of 2008. However, the 2009 figure still equated to 37,3 per cent of total SA exports (down from 43,4 per cent a year earlier). VW had a far bigger fall, going from 18 050 in the first half of last year to only 8 165 for the same period this year, which equated to a fall of 4,2 per cent in its share of total SA volume, bringing it down to 10,2 per cent, which placed it below both BMW (23,9 per cent share) and Mercedes-Benz (16,8 per cent share).
Ford’s volume fell 27,3 per cent to 5 147 units and a 6,4 per cent share of the total export pie. Hummer plunged from 2 872 to only 665 units as this model’s local production came to an end. The only other significant volume exporter was Nissan, which currently exports only into Africa. Its volume fell 36,2 per cent to 2 701 units, for a 3,4 per cent share.
The United States remained the biggest market for SA-built vehicles outside Africa, taking 28 914 BMWs and Mercedes-Benzes. Next biggest was the UK (Volkswagens and Toyotas), followed by Australia (Ford, BMW and VW), France, Poland and Turkey (all Toyota).
Toyota remained the dominant exporter into African countries, shipping 17 181 units in the first six months of this year, which was 32,4 per cent down on the 2008 volume, but still accounted for 79 per cent of SA’s built-up vehicle exports into Africa. The only other significant player in this market was a Nissan, with 2 494 units shipped for an 11,5 per cent share.
The biggest customer was Nigeria, which took 6 398 Toyotas. It was followed by Algeria (Toyota and Nissan), Egypt (Toyota), Angola (Toyota, Ford and Nissan), and Ghana (Toyota and Nissan), with all the other countries taking well under 1 000 units each.
