Commercial vehicle exports continue to fall and passenger trucks are in the doldrums
“At present, the export statistics of the customs in the first quarter have not yet come out. However, from the understanding of enterprises, the export of commercial vehicles from January to March will not be very good. From October 2008, overseas sales of Chinese automobiles will begin. The decline was faster in November and December. According to this situation analysis, the export situation in the first quarter was not optimistic, and commercial vehicles are no exception.†Fu Peizhao, Deputy Secretary General of the China Import and Export Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chamber of Commerce, told the “Commercial Automotive News†reporter .
Like the weather that has not been warmed up this year, the overseas sales of commercial vehicle companies in the first quarter are full of "chill."
Most bus companies have declined in exports
“Since China’s export destinations are all emerging market countries, affected by the financial crisis, the real economy of these countries, especially the oil economy, has been affected, resulting in a decline in the ability to pay. Although some countries still have demand, due to the lack of international financing channels, Unimpeded, they have no purchasing power even if there is demand,†said Zhu Yuanbing, brand leader of the Yutong Bus Overseas Market’s Ministry of Commerce.
It is reported that from January to February, the number of Yutong’s overseas orders has decreased, and the downward trend has appeared since the second half of last year. Zhu Yuanbing said: "The market is sluggish. Yutong's 2009 export plan is the same as last year. If the market improves in the second half of the year, then adjust it."
The export situation of Shaolin coaches is also not optimistic. Tang Yanbin, Minister of International Trade of the Shaolin Coach Group, said: “By the devaluation of countries such as Central Asia, Southeast Asia, and Russia, the competitiveness of our products in these regions has declined. Kazakhstan’s currency has depreciated by 30%, and Russia is even more At 50%, how much does the devaluation of these countries' currencies decelerate, and how much our car prices increase accordingly. In the face of this situation, there are few ways for enterprises to reduce their prices as much as possible on the basis of capital preservation, but the profits of passenger cars It's only about 5% in itself."
Tang Yanbin also recognized Zhu Yuanbing’s point of view that there are demands in some countries, but he said: “In the past, users will consider the factors of the production cycle and the transport cycle to increase the number of orders, but now due to the decline in capacity, these countries’ orders are very small. No more than 10 vehicles. In January-February, we only sold more than 20 vehicles. We plan to export 1,000 vehicles this year. It now seems difficult to meet this expectation."
Sun Dongli, director of China Overseas Marketing Planning Department, also stated: “The current sales situation is worse than expected. The company exported PKD (partial transactions such as body or chassis transactions) to the United States in January, but has not received orders in February. Our marketing staff are out, trying to collect some order information in April."
Compared with the first three companies, Dajinlong's performance was somewhat unexpected. On February 14th, Dajinlong obtained an order for 406 bus passenger cars from Senegal. Among the orders, there were 4 vehicles. The remaining 402 vehicles were all exported through CKD (all loose parts) and assembled in the local area. The amount of the project exceeded RMB 160 million. RMB. The order is expected to be completed within 8 months.
Han Jinhong, manager of Daikin Dragon's overseas sales department, said: “Daikin Dragon has performed well in overseas markets this year and has continued to take orders, but it also encountered some difficulties, such as in the Russian and Ukrainian markets. Overall, from January to February, Daikin Dragon Overseas sales have increased slightly. According to Han Zhihong, the sales season in foreign markets is not the same as in China. According to the regional characteristics of different seasons, such as Europe's sales season in March to June, Africa, the Middle East, there is no time difference, Southeast Asia At the end of the year. Han Zhihong said: "Despite the current market is not good, Daikin Dragon has been working hard to increase its export volume. In 2009, Daikin Dragon's overseas sales plan was the same as last year and achieved growth."
Truck companies turn to market cultivation
Compared with passenger cars, the export of trucks was driven by the demand for construction vehicles, and the decline in sales volume was modest, but the situation was still not optimistic.
Shaanxi Jianxi’s Minister of Overseas Markets Li Jian told reporters that Shaanqi’s overseas sales from January to March reached 4,000 to 5,000 vehicles. Due to the financial crisis and fear of payment risks, the company requires full payment unless it is an exclusive agent set up by the company but it also requires a deposit of more than 50%. “From the perspective of the regional market, South America has been affected more; the Middle East has also experienced a decline in demand due to the characteristics of its oil; due to China’s relatively large investment in Africa, it has stimulated some of the demand.†It is reported that in December 2008, Algerian Eurl gm Trade has signed a contract for the sale of 3,200 heavy trucks. Among them, the first 500 heavy trucks were delivered at the end of December 2008, and the remaining 2700 vehicles will be delivered by June 2009. According to Li Jian, Shaanxi Auto will build four assembly lines in Alger, the capital of Algeria. "Our current focus has shifted to the cultivation of traditional markets."
When asked about the export situation in the first quarter, the relevant person in charge of Sinotruk stated that the current statistics for the first quarter have not yet come out, but it should not be very good. “In Southeast Asia and Eastern Europe, the performance of the market is not very good. In order to realize profitability, we are now mainly engaged in the domestic market. With the investment of RMB 4 trillion and the post-disaster reconstruction in Sichuan, our sales volume in March filled the slump in January and February.â€
Since Russia gradually increased its trade barriers, the export of commercial vehicles from China to the region has also become a major problem. “A group of vehicles that we exported to Russia have not been issued because of policy adjustments.†Chen Huisong, an office of Anhui Hualing Automobile Group Co., Ltd., said: “The current market with large demand has not improved, and existing orders are small batches. In the first half of this year, the 500 tractors exported to Thailand that we have to deliver were also orders signed in 2008. Since heavy vehicles are generally placed in the second half of the year and few in the first half, we expect that the second half will be able to improve. â€
Hu Dan, an overseas business unit of Dongfeng Commercial Vehicles, also stated: “In the past, Russia, the main export market for Chinese companies, is basically in a standstill. At present, we continue to receive orders from Vietnam, Algeria, and South America. In the Vietnamese market, we are devalued by the Vietnam Dong. The impact, but Dongfeng local dealers in Vietnam has achieved good sales." In the face of the market downturn, Hu Dan said: "Dongfeng proposed the 'opportunity to market, market strategy' slogan, first plan construction Three overseas offices and the second is to improve the logistics level of after-sales services.Dongfeng commercial vehicle heavy vehicles (excluding the export volume of subsidiaries) will achieve the export target of 9,000 vehicles this year.â€
Business expects policy support
Expert opinion is different
Overseas exports were blocked. In the interview, many commercial vehicle companies expressed their hope that the country would introduce relevant policies to stimulate exports.
Zhu Yuanbing said that he hopes the country can give corporate support in international financing and export credit guarantees. Zhu Yuanbing said: “After the financial crisis broke out, the international credit system was ineffective. In order to minimize risks, China has controlled export credit guarantees. Now the quotas we report are not easy to be approved. For example, we want 1 million yuan, possibly the last It approved 600,000 yuan."
In Yutong’s export of 2,500 vehicles to Cuba, orders for 2008 were temporarily postponed due to guarantee issues, affecting the volume of exports that year. At present, due to the further deterioration of the export environment, international credit guarantees have become a major factor constraining exports.
Tang Yanbin also said that he expects the country will introduce some preferential policies such as raising the export tax rebate rate and subsidies.
Xu Changming, director of the Information Resources Development Department of the National Information Center, believes that it is not a question of funding. It is mainly a matter of market demand. Xu Changming stated: “The decline in overseas sales of commercial vehicles is due mainly to three reasons: First, the global economic downturn has led to a drop in demand; Second, US dollar has been used as the base currency in international settlements. With the appreciation of the renminbi, the advantages of China's product cost performance have declined; It is the rise of trade protectionism. Enterprises must adjust their strategies in accordance with the export environment so that they can't get out of vehicles, and they can use overseas factories."
Fu Peizhao also stated that the role of the government in introducing some stimulus measures is limited. In terms of export credits, problems have arisen in the entire international credit system, which is not resolved by China’s relaxation of credit guarantees. Fu Peizhao said: "Currently, we can only wait for the market to pick up, and companies can take measures to increase sales as much as possible."
Fu Peizhao paid special attention to the South American market. According to him, since 2007, China’s trade volume with South American countries has risen. In 2008 and 2009, it has risen faster. Currently,
China has signed agreements on free trade areas with Chile and Peru, and Chile also recognizes China's domestic certification, which provides an opportunity for China’s cars to enter the country’s market.