Thursday, December 25, 2008

Auto importers feel the pain as global crisis cuts sales

A Ford dealership in Phnom Penh. Ford has fared better than other companies in Cambodia, yet has seen sales slip 10 percent. (Photo by: GEORGE MCLEOD)

Wednesday, 24 December 2008

Written by Nguon Sovan
The Phnom Penh Post


With global automobile sales in freefall, local dealers are expecting the worst as some importers predict a drop of more than 40 percent over two years

AMID tumbling real estate values and growing concern over the local implications of the global economic slowdown, Cambodia's auto sales are expected to drop as much as 40 percent over the next two years, economists and auto distributors say.

"We predict car demand in Cambodia will drop by as much as 40 percent within the next two years," said Kong Nuon, president of Toyota distributor TTHK Co Ltd on Sunday.

The declines in local sales come as the global market plummets with Toyota forecast it first reported loss Monday and US auto giants on the brink of bankruptcy.

"Unpopular models may face higher declines," he said, adding that the previously booming real estate market had fuelled an increase in consumer spending on automobiles.

Kong Nuon estimated that demand for new car models in Cambodia was about 2,800 per year on average, with an additional 20,000 second-hand cars changing owners annually.

Toyota remains the Kingdom's most popular import maker, with up to 70 percent market share, he said.

"In past years, six importers brought in an estimated 300 Toyota models each per year," Kong Nuon said, adding that TTHK Co inked an agreement with the Toyota Motor Corp last week to become the exclusive distributor of Toyotas in Cambodia.
"With the global crisis ... It is impossible for auto sales to increase next year. "
"From now on, we have exclusive rights to distribute Toyotas. We have submitted documents to register with the Commerce Ministry to help curb any further imports of Toyotas by other importers," Kong Nuon said.

But the dire state of international markets and a local economy marked by rising commodity prices and shrinking real estate and construction sectors have stripped Toyota of up to 40 percent of annual sales over last year.

The sales slowdown could have indirect implications for Cambodia's auto industry as importers face cutbacks.

TTHK currently employs 88 people and has no immediate plans for layoffs, but the company has been forced to cut expenses by 10 percent, Kong Nuon said.

Ford still strong
But Ngorn Saing, deputy general manager of RM Asia, a Ford distributor and Cambodia's second-largest automobile importer, said Monday its sales could see a rise of up to 10 percent next year.

"Our customers are mostly businesspeople rather than those who have made profits on real estate," he said.

Sales of Ford models this year have dropped just 10 percent over last year, Ngorn Saing said.

Kang Chandararot, president of the Cambodia Institute of Development Study, told the Post Monday that a drop over the next two years was likely because of its traditional link to the property sector.

"With the global crisis and a recession in Cambodia's real estate market, it is impossible for auto sales to increase next year," he said, adding that it could take until 2010 for a recovery.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Bravo. We are glad to hear that all the businesses that run by the traders in Cambodia are collapsing.

How can you have a business in a country the chauffeur by an uneducated man like HS ?

Ah kvak= aveugle=no education

Anonymous said...

this blogger above has earned the nickname, hater! please don't hate just because your name is hater! god bless cambodia.

Anonymous said...

We hate because ah Kwack goverment breading corruption and unjustice!

AND THE MOTHER FUCKER IS KILLING OUR RELIGIONG SLOWLY FOR AH YOUN MOTHER F U C K ER HANOI AH CHOYMARAY HO CHIMINH GOAT FACE!

WHER IS MONK TIM SAKHONE, MAY GOODNESS SAVE HIM!!!

Anonymous said...

I am fully support poster 4:01AM.

Down Ah Hun Sen/CPP/Youn

Anonymous said...

Your middle finger the poster 2:51AM
A chhke youn.

Anonymous said...

Now it's time to build the flying cars.By creating ultimate converter to bring into and accept in to a partticular capacity bad air into the converter to make it clean air and the clean air exit from the 3G muffler this is two step process.Maybe the trick or an action or process of solving this kind of problem.Do you think this is a crazy idea?

Anonymous said...

Damn, there goes another victim of Hollywood craps.

Anonymous said...

I have just ordered a brand new Lexus LX 570 and a Porsche Cayenne Turbo.