Jan exports up, sales down for Turkish auto sector
Turkey's total vehicle sales dropped 38% year-on-year in January 2005 to 24'000 units,
Turkey's
Automotive Manufacturers Association (OSD) said today.
Passenger car sales were down 50% in January to 12'000 units, and imports accounted for 72% of total market.
According to OSD data, vehicle
production amounted to 56'000 units last month, down 3% from a year earlier. Passenger car
production fell 18% to 27'000 units.
On the other hand,
Turkey's vehicle exports rose 2% in January to more than 37'000 units. A 46% surge in commercial vehicle exports to 17'000 was enough to offset a decline in passenger car exports, which fell 19% to 20'000 units.
Export income reached $541 million in January 2005, up 19% compared to the same period the year before.
OSD expects that the
automotive market will recover in the coming months, but warns that demand will be lower than 2004