São Paulo – Brazilian motorcycle exports grew by 17.1% between January and October this year compared with the same period of 2009. According to data disclosed by the Brazilian Association of Motorcycle, Autocycle, Scooter and Bicycle Manufacturers (Abraciclo), the country shipped 55,755 motorcycles to foreign countries from January until October this year, as against 47,622 in the same period last year.
The exporting companies were Honda and Yamaha. Honda exported 43,274 units, and Yamaha shipped 12,481 motorcycles abroad. From January to October, Honda exported 36,550 units and Yamaha, 11,072. Thus, Honda’s exports have grown by 18.4% and Yamaha’s, by 12.7%.
In October alone, however, exports of motorcycles from Brazil increased by 30.4%. The industry shipped 6,627 units to foreign countries, as against 4,308 in the same month of 2009. Over September this year, exports in October have remained virtually stable, with a decline of only 0.3%. The performance was celebrated by the Abraciclo, because the Brazilian currency appreciated during the period.
In the first ten months this year there was growth of 15% in motorcycle production in Brazil, which reached 1.53 million units, as against 1.33 million in the same period last year. In a statement, the president of Abraciclo, Jaime Teruo Matsui, claimed that the industry is becoming stronger and gradually leaving the shadow of the crisis behind.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
