Motorbike Imports Soar 92.6 per cent in January-November
Vietnam imported 38,200 finished motorbikes worth US$52.8 million in the first eleven months of this year, representing a year-on-year increase of 92.6 per cent in volume and 191.7 per cent in value, according to the General Statistics Office.
In November, the Southeast Asian nation spent around US$4.7 million on 3,500 motorcycles, it said. The total number of imported motorbikes in the January-October period was 34,700 units valued at US$48.1 million.
Motorbike manufactures in the communist-ruled country are projected to disburse US$437.2 million on motorbike components in the first eleven months of 2005 and US$35.3 million in November alone.
In 2004, Vietnam imported 16,607 motorcycles and scooters, mainly costly luxury models.
Currently, Vietnam has a total of 52 motorbike-manufacturing companies, including seven foreign-led joint ventures.
According to market experts, Vietnam will need 1.8 million motorbikes in 2005.
Vietnam has recently introduced a plan to become a motorbike exporter by 2010. It plans to send abroad 450,000-500,000 units by 2010. The current production capacity of the motorbike industry is some three million units a year.
B.T
Vietnamese
