Export proportion of Chinese automobiles lowest in the world
- Source: Global Times
- [15:11 January 14 2011]
- Comments
Although Chinese auto production exploded to first in the world, export proportion remains the lowest, according to China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.
The nation produced 18.27 million vehicles last year. However, only 2.98 percent, or 544,900 units, was exported. The number is both below that of developing countries such as India and Brazil and prosperous auto markets like Japan, Germany and South Korea.
The export volume of Germany in 2010 was 4.24 million units, and the export ratio was 76.29 percent. Japan exported 4.37 million vehicles from January to November last year. South Korea's export volume last year was of 2.77 million units.
Indian export volume has been sturdy even during the financial crisis. In the 2009-2010 fiscal year (between April 2009 and March 2010), the country had exported 1.8 million vehicles, growing at 17.90 percent year-on-year. The nation's officials predicted that the export volume in the fiscal year of 2010-2011 will rise 10 to 15 percent. The export ratio of India has surged on to 12.84 percent in the 2009-2010 fiscal year from the 6.63 percent in the 2003-2004 fiscal year.
Although Brazil exported fewer vehicles than India, its export proportion was higher than India's and China's, at 21.04 percent last year.
Among the Chinese vehicles exported last year, 282,900 units were passenger cars – number higher than that of commercial cars, which is 261,900 units. It is the second time since 2008 for passenger car export volume to exceed that of commercial cars.
However, the sales value of passenger cars is far below that of commercial cars. During the period between January and November of 2010, China exported 254,000 passenger cars, tipping in $1.66 billion; while the 256,800 commercial cars exported generated a profit of $4.575 billion. The average export price of passenger cars is about $6,535; commercial cars' is $17,800.
The export ratio of passenger cars was 2.04 percent in 2010, lower than that of commercial cars – 6 percent.
In order to increase export volume, Chinese automakers should strengthen after-sales service, find main markets, and improve the quality of cars instead of mainly cutting prices, according to an expert in the industry.
