Vietnam's Auto Imports Soar in Jan-June
Vietnam was estimated to have spent US$431 million importing automobiles, components and spare parts in the first six months this year, a year-on-year rise of 41.7 per cent, said the government-run General Statistics Office (GSO).
The country expended US$140 million on importing 8,000 completely-built automobiles, up 23.5 per cent and 11.7 per cent on year, respectively.
The soar in car imports is principally attributed to the fondness of foreign-made two-wheeler, a trade official said.
After Vietnam joined the WTO in January, foreign goods, including automobiles, have easier access to the Asean country, he added.
Moreover, the demand for cars in Vietnam is predicted to skyrocket this year. According to the Vietnam Automobile Manufacturers Association (VAMA), the 16 sales by its member companies rose 85 per cent to 22,445 units.
Last year, Vietnam imported 12,000 automobiles worth $208 million, down 32.3 per cent in volume and 26.8 per cent in value. (GSO June 2007)
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