2013-14 was a good year for Exports

A bad year at the sales charts depicts a gloomy picture but in adversity, there are new opportunities to explore as Indian automotive manufacturers found out. Financial year 2013-14 was a year to focus on exports. To keep production levels at acceptable numbers, manufacturers saw the export market as a fall back plan last year. Let’s have a look at the numbers.

Exports in 2013-14 grew by 7.21 percent to 3.1 million units from 2.89 million units. A major boost was of course from the 2-wheelers industry because of the sheer volumes manufactured in India. A 6.52 percent growth was reported with 2.08 million units being shipped off the country as compared to 1.95 million clocked last annum. Car exports grew as well at 6.09 percent to 5.93 lakh units from 5.59 lakh units. The commercial vehicle industry posted negative 3.71 percent export figures but three wheeler exports grew by a whooping 16.6 percent.

Among car manufacturers, India’s largest exporter, Hyundai, fell 10.22 percent. Hyundai was still the number one exporter at 2.33 lakh units. Nissan ended the year second with 1.16 lakh units exported posting a growth of 17.5 percent. Nissan’s domestic sales are just a third of their exports now. Volkswagen was a late entrant to the exports game but numbers picked up once deliveries to Mexico began late last year. The German car manufacturer exported above 32,000 units last year and is consistently shipping around the 5,000 unit mark every month. At this rate, they will be exporting more cars than they sell locally as well. 

Maruti’s exports have dipped by 15.81 percent and Toyota and Ford have gained in the past year. It’s surprising to see high numbers for Ford at 48,088 units last annum, most of which comprise the EcoSport. There is shortage of supply for the domestic market yet Ford has managed to export around 17,500 units. While the EcoSport is an anomaly in the exports trend, cars like the Micra, Sunny and Vento show how the export marked has helped Nissan and Volkswagen keep their factories running without a glitch.

Among two-wheeler manufacturers, Bajaj is head and shoulders ahead of the rest of the pack. The bike maker exported 1.32 million units last year growing 2.32 percent in the process while domestic sales fell about 14.8 percent. TVS came second with a quarter of a million unit sales from exports, a majority of the contribution coming from its entry-level commuter bikes. Yamaha has almost doubled its exports to 1.94 lakh units. Honda two-wheelers exports grew by 11.5 percent and Hero exports fell by almost 19 percent.