Africa and Asia were continuing to grow in importance as new vehicle export markets for South Africa, and were compensating for slowing sales to the economically depressed Europe, said National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (Naamsa) executive manager Dr Norman Lamprecht on Monday.

Commenting on the Naamsa second quarter report, Lamprecht said the rest of Africa was now the South African automotive industry’s biggest export market, with new vehicles exported to Africa increasing by 12.1% for the first six months of 2013, to 42 243 vehicles, compared with the 37 684 units exported in the first six months of 2012.

According to the report, exports to Europe moved to second spot, declining by 2.3%, to 41 062 vehicles, with the Australiasian market also proving less lucrative, down 21.6%, to 7 963 units.

Exports to North America was, however, up 42.8%, to 37 398 vehicles, with exports to Asia surging 101.9% for the first six months of the year, to 18 950 units.

Lamprecht said the growth in Asian exports could be attributed to the more than doubling in sales to markets such as China and Russia. This, in turn, could be ascribed to economic growth in these markets, as well as South Africa’s new, more visible stature as a member of the Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, or Brics, grouping.

South African new vehicle exports to China had increased from 523 units in 2009, to 5 369 units in 2012. Exports to Russia had grown from 171 vehicles in 2009, to 6 082 units in 2012.

South Africa exported 80 223 vehicles to Africa in 2012, and 87 591 units to the European Union.

Lamprecht said the growth in new vehicle sales to Africa created the opportunity for local manufacturers to also benefit from a growing export replacement parts market.

He also emphasised that the EU would always remain an extremely important export market for South African vehicle and component manufacturers.

Naamsa’s second-quarter report also stated that the association expected new vehicle sales in South Africa to grow by 6.5% in 2013 over 2012, to 652 000 units. New vehicle exports were expected to reach 336 300 vehicles, compared with 277 893 units in 2012.

Less positive news emanating from the report, however, was that employment in the vehicle manufacturing industry had declined by 396 jobs, or 1.3%, at the end of June compared with the head count on March 31.

Industry capital expenditure, however, remained close to record levels, and should exceed R5.2-billion in 2013, compared with R4.7-billion in 2012, and R3.9-billion in 2011.