Anfavea reports 46.2% YoY drop in vehicle exports in 1st half of 2020

The National Association of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers (Anfavea) presented performance results for the automobile industry in the first six months of the year. The data reflects the impacts of the pandemic caused by the new coronavirus, which has been particularly acute in the last three months.   During the first semester, the accumulated production figure was 729,500 vehicles which represented a 50.5% drop compared to the first half of 2019. In June, exports closed at 19,400 units, totaling 119,500 in the first half – a year-on-year drop of 46.2%.

Forecasts

In June, the production of 98,700 units was 129.1% higher than in May but 57.7% lower than June 2019. With this data and based on the country’s economic expectations for the second semester, the association projects production of 1.63 million cars, light commercial vehicles, trucks, and buses in 2020, a volume 45% lower than in 2019.

“This is a dramatic estimate, but very realistic based on the prolongation of the pandemic in Brazil and the deterioration of economic activity and the income of consumers”, said the President of Anfavea, Luiz Carlos Moraes. The production outlook is backed by a projected domestic market of 1.675 million units sold in the year (down 40%) and export of 200,000 units (down 53%), in addition to taking into account the variation in inventories and imports of vehicles. With the licensing of 132,800 units in June, the accumulated result for the semester was 808,800 vehicles, down 38.2% over the same period in 2019.

Trucks and agricultural machinery

The truck sector was also affected by the pandemic, although the declines were not as drastic as those of light vehicles. Production in the semester (34,800 units) was 37.2% lower compared to the same period last year.

Licenses (37,900 units) decreased by 19.1%, while exports (4,800 units) shrank 19.2%. Part of the relief in truck sales can be credited to the good results of the agricultural harvest, which also helped the machinery sector not to suffer so much from the effects of the pandemic.

Accumulated production in the semester (19,100 units) was 22.6% lower than in the first six months of 2019. Sales of 19,600 machines meant a fall of only 1.3% in the first semester compared to year-ago levels, while exports, at 4,200 units, decreased by 31% over the same period comparison.

Source: ANFAVEA

“The general situation of the national automotive industry is that of a bigger crisis than that faced in the 80s, 90s, and the most recent one in 2015/16. It came at a time when companies projected annual growth of almost 10%. A decline of this magnitude in the year will have a lasting impact, unfortunately. Our expectation is that only in 2025 will the sector return to 2019 levels – that is a six-year delay”, evaluated Luiz Carlos Moraes.

Source: ANFAVEA

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