https://www.engineeringnews.co.za

January new-vehicle sales decline by 8.9%

1st February 2018

By: Irma Venter

Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

     

Font size: - +

New-vehicle sales in the domestic market declined by 8.9% in the first month of the year, to 45 888 units, compared with January last year.

Sales numbers released by the Department of Trade and Industry on Thursday showed that January new-passenger car sales dropped by 11.6 %, to 32 642 units.

Sales of new bakkies, minibuses and vans, at 11 689 units, contracted by 2.1%.

Sales of medium trucks, at 443 units, dropped by 6.1%.

Sales of new heavy trucks and buses delivered some good news, however, increasing by 4.5%, to 1 114 units.

New-vehicle exports from South Africa also moved upwards in January, growing by 22%, to 14 212 units.

Despite the poor January figures, the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (Naamsa) said in a statement that it was upbeat on the prospects for the remainder of the year.

The association said that ongoing improvement in the Reserve Bank’s leading indicator, as well as the substantial increase in the latest Purchasing Manager’s Index, hinted at enhanced economic conditions over the medium term.

“The [recent] considerable appreciation in the value of the rand will reduce inflationary pressures and serve to enhance consumers’ disposable income.

“Combined with the recent positive political developments and improved business confidence, it is possible for economic growth in 2018 to surpass current expectations.”

However, warned Naamsa, much would depend on the February 2018 budget and government’s commitment to fiscal discipline.

“On the assumption that South Africa will avoid a further downgrade during the first quarter of 2018, Naamsa anticipates that economic growth could recover to a level above 1.5% in 2018.

“This will benefit new-vehicle sales in particular, which could then expand to levels above the 2% to 4% growth projected at the beginning of the year.

“New vehicle price inflation – currently at an annualised rate of around 2.5% – together with continued replacement demand, will serve to support new vehicle sales in the months ahead.”

Naamsa expected 2018 new-vehicle exports from South Africa to show “fairly strong upward momentum on the back of improved growth in the global economy”.

An increase in export sales of around 11%, to 366 050 units, was anticipated for the year.

 

Edited by Creamer Media Reporter

Comments

Showroom

GreaseMax
GreaseMax

GreaseMax is a chemically operated automatic lubricator.

VISIT SHOWROOM 
M and J Mining
M and J Mining

M and J Mining are leading suppliers of physical support systems as used by the underground mining industry. Our selection of products are not...

VISIT SHOWROOM 

Latest Multimedia

sponsored by

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION







sq:0.082 0.142s - 158pq - 2rq
Subscribe Now