TAPA 2014 Co-Host TAPMA Reaffirms Thailand's Determination to Be ASEAN's Production Hub

Online, April 27, 2014 (Newswire.com) - The Thai Auto Parts Manufacturers Association (TAPMA), one of the organising partners of the "Thailand Auto Parts & Accessories 2014" (TAPA 2014), has voiced confidence that Thailand's automobile and auto parts industry will continue to have a very bright year, beginning with a splendid showing for the first quarter of 2013, as exports for the three-month period reached a value of 125 billion baht.

TAPMA President, Mrs. Achana Limpaitoon, disclosed that Thailand's export of automobile and auto parts reached 1 trillion baht in 2012, up 29% from 2011. Automobile exports totalled 494,350 million baht in value, while motorcycle exports reached 35,486 million baht and exports of auto parts gained 480,566 million baht.

At the end of the first quarter of this year, 721,460 cars were assembled, up 44% from the same period in 2012, and the export value of 125 billion baht includes, among others: 6.924 billion baht for engines, 43.675 billion baht for auto parts and 4.165 billion baht for spare parts.

"Thailand's largest automobile markets are in Africa, the Middle East, and Australia-New Zealand, and the largest autoparts markets are Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Brazil and India. Besides Thailand, other countries in ASEAN with a capability for auto production are Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam -- with a total count of 4.2 million cars. Thailand alone can produce 2.45 million cars per year, of which more than one million are exported. The potential for even more production and export has made Thailand attractive for car manufacturers as a production base," Mrs. Achana said.

"Furthermore, Thailand's auto industry has continually improved for over half a century, with great determination within the private sector and absolute support from the government. The Thai auto industry now accounts for almost 10% of Thailand's GDP. The industry has reached maturity and is ready to be the driving force in the country's development."

From statistics collected at TAPA 2012, there were 315 exhibitors occupying 661 booths. Of those, 207 were Thai participants with 515 booths and 108 foreign participants with 146 booths. The majority of foreign participants were from China, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Japan. The TAPA 2012 exhibition saw a total of 10,372 visitors.

Trade days at the fair saw 3,675 visitors, with foreigners coming mainly from Malaysia, China, Japan, India, Egypt, the Philippines and Indonesia. On the day the event was opened to the public, there were 6,697 visitors.

The event generated 769.58 million baht in income, of which 54.54 million baht came from immediate orders and 715.04 million baht from estimated sales within the year. On the fair's final day, retail sales earned from the public amounted to 1.1 million baht.

"As one of the organising parties of TAPA 2014, which will take place from April 28 to May 1 next year, we feel the exhibition serves as an excellent stimulant pushing Thailand's auto industry to reach ever higher goals in production and export. This grand event will also serve as a platform to showcase energy-efficient vehicles for a greener planet, including other products and services, before the more than 16,000 business entrepreneurs from Thailand, ASEAN and the rest of the world, who are expected to attend the event." said the TAPMA president.

Those in the auto industry and related circles who are interested in exhibiting their products, may contact the event organiser at Tel: +66 2 507 8374 -78 or e-mail tapa@ditp.go.th, or click onto the event's website at http://www.thailandautopartsfair.com/