July 1, 2008
BANGKOK - The auto exports rose 30 percent in May with strong demand in most markets despite high global oil prices, according to the Federation of Thai Industries.
Automobile exports valued 32.15 billion baht (961.7 million dollars), 30.34 percent higher than the same month last year.
"Demand in passengers cars and pick-up trucks increased continuously in nearly every market except Europe, where sales of pick-up trucks have slowed down since March," the group's spokesman Surapong Paisitpatanapong told AFP.
"That slowdown in trucks to Europe may be due to high global oil prices, especially diesel oil prices," he said.
Auto and auto parts exports in the first five months of this year reached 209.85 billion baht, up 33.78 percent year on year.
320,880 car and truck exports were worth 144.82 billion baht.
Exports in June are expected to grow more, especially in the passenger car segment. Car exports in Asia which is Thailand’s major market accounted for 58% of all automobiles.
Aiming to become the regional production base by luring foreign firms to invest here, Thailand has no national auto company.
