MANILA, Philippines — Motor vehicle production in the Philippines dipped 6.7 percent from January to April, making it the only country in Southeast Asia where output declined.
Data from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Automotive Federation (AAF) showed a total of 24,080 motor vehicles were rolled out of assembly plants in the Philippines as of end-April, down from the 25,805 units in the same period last year.
Meanwhile, motor vehicle production increased in all other ASEAN countries tracked by the AAF in the first four months compared to the previous year.
Posting the fastest growth in motor vehicle production was Myanmar at 124.7 percent, followed by Indonesia (36.2 percent), Vietnam (27.8 percent), Thailand (eight percent), and Malaysia (5.2 percent).
Motor vehicles manufactured in ASEAN rose by 16.5 percent to 1.41 million units during the period from 1.21 million units in the previous year.
In terms of motor vehicle sales, the Philippines, like most of its neighbors, saw an increase as the country sold 99,903 units as of end-April, 13.3 percent higher than the 88,155 units in the same period a year ago.
Other ASEAN countries where motor vehicle sales picked up speed in the four month period were Indonesia (38.6 percent), Vietnam (31.5 percent), Myanmar (19.3 percent), Malaysia (eight percent), Thailand (2.7 percent), while Singapore registered a 40 percent decline.
Total motor vehicle sales in ASEAN climbed by 16 percent to 1.12 million units from 968,052 units last year.
AAF data also showed motorcycle and scooter production in the Philippines fell by 14 percent to 291,557 units as of end-April.
Other ASEAN countries tracked by AAF also produced fewer motorcycles and scooters in the four month -- Malaysia (-11 percent) and Thailand (-4.3 percent).
Motorcycles and scooters assembled in ASEAN were down 8.3 percent to 1.11 million units from 1.21 million units in the same period a year ago.
As of end-April, Philippines motorcycle and scooter sales went up by two percent to 504,010 units from 493,687 units the previous year.
In Thailand, motorcycle and scooter sales inched up by 0.1 percent, while sales in Singapore and Malaysia decreased by 4.3 percent and 12 percent, respectively.
Motorcycle and scooter sales in ASEAN slid by 1.2 percent to 1.27 million units from 1.29million units.