The National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (Naamsa) on Tuesday reported that vehicle exports during October had surprised on the upside.

Export sales, at 20 948 vehicles, reflected a decline of 7 149 vehicles, or a fall of 25,4% compared with the 28 097 vehicles exported during October last year. However, last month's volumes showed a 50% improvement over September 2008 export sales.

Naamsa said that the performance suggested that a number of export markets were starting to recover, probably on the back of vehicle demand stimulation packages and fiscal support measures which had been introduced in several countries.

“The welcome month-on-month improvement in export sales over the past two months would also provide much-needed support to auto parts and vehicle producers.”

However welcome October's figures might have been, they would not do much to change an overall dismal export performance for 2009.

Vehicle exports had dropped 44% in volume for the first eight months of the year compared with the same period last year.

In a similar fashion, the National Association of Automotive Component and Allied Manufacturers expected component exports for 2009 to be down by at least R15-billion from the record level of R44-billion achieved in 2008, said executive director Roger Pitot.

Naamsa had estimated earlier this year that the total value of exports – components and vehicles – would drop from last year's R94,2-billion to roughly R60-billion this year.