But the Philippines still ranks fifth among six Asean economies in terms of total output, lagging behind Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam.
By Alden M. Monzon, Inquirer Business
The Philippines’ vehicle output grew for the fourth month in November, rising by nearly 50 percent year-on-year, as global trade continued to recover.
Data from the Asean Automotive Federation, an umbrella group of industry associations from member-economies of the regional bloc, showed the Philippines produced 10,315 motor vehicle units during the month, up 48.3 percent compared to the 6,956 units manufactured in the same month in 2021.
This brings the Philippines’ 11-month motor vehicle production to 84,138 units, which is 6.9-percent higher than the 78,714 units that were produced during the same period last year.
Thailand still No.1
The Philippines ranked fifth among six Association of Southeast Asian Nation (Asean) economies in terms of total output, lagging behind Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam.
Thailand retained its number one spot, producing 1,790,082 units from January to November this year, up by 16.9 percent compared to last year. Indonesia produced 1,330,238 units; Malaysia, 633,421 units; Vietnam, 216,882 units.
Myanmar produced the least number of vehicles with 3,115 units, but recorded the highest growth at 134.4 percent.
Last year, the Philippines also ranked fifth in terms of vehicle output, producing a total 83,846 units.
It produced 67,297 units in 2020, 95,094 units in 2019, and 79,763 in 2018.
Thailand is still the top producer of motorcycles and scooters compared to two other countries with available data during the period, manufacturing 1,835,466 units.
This is higher by 13.8 percent compared to the 1,612,831 units the country produced during the same period last year.
Highest growth rate
The Philippines ranked second with 865,246 units, growing by 7.1 percent compared to 807,783 units previously.
Malaysia ranked third with 621,649 units, but had the highest growth rate of the three with 43.6 percent when compared to the 433,031 units made in 2021.
The Philippines’ motorcycle and scooter output still has not recovered to prepandemic levels.
Before the global outbreak of COVID-19, which crippled industries and severely affected supply lines, the Philippines was producing more than a million of these two-wheeled vehicles yearly.
It produced 1,161,646 units in 2019; 1,258,566 units in 2018; 1,173,883 units in 2017; and 1,040,626 units in 2016.
FILE PHOTO: Filipino workers at the Toyota Autoparts Philippines assembles transmission at their manufacturing plant in Santa Rosa. AFP PHOTO ROMEO GACAD
