The production of automobiles in Mexican plants fell by 9.09% annually in January, a month still affected by the shortage of supplies, the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Inegi) reported this Friday.
“The total production in Mexico was 253,366 units, 74.4% of the total were light trucks and the rest corresponded to the manufacture of automobiles,” Inegi reported in a bulletin.
The number of cars manufactured in Mexico was 253,366 units in January 2022, some 25,000 units less than a year ago, when 278,703 units were produced in the first month of 2021.
“The production of the month stood at 253,366 units, the lowest level for a month of January since 2014, registering an annual rate contraction of 9.09%,” explained the director of economic analysis of Banco Base, Gabriela Siller.
As highlighted by the expert in an economic comment shared with EFE, automotive production is approximately 22.77% below its pre-pandemic level (January 2020).
“It is noteworthy that, during the month, production was affected at the Volkswagen plant in Puebla due to the shortage of semiconductors,” he added.
Along the same lines, Mexican vehicle exports fell 3.09% annually in the same month.
In January 2022, 216,630 light vehicles were sold abroad, some 7,000 less than in the same month of 2021, when 223,533 units were exported.
While, in the same period, national sales decreased 3.76%, going from 81,657 in January 2021 to 78,585 in the first month of 2022.
“Automotive exports stood at 216,630 units, the lowest level for a month of January since 2016, presenting a contraction at an annual rate of 3.09%. Regarding its pre-pandemic level (January 2020), automotive exports show a lag of 9.26%,” Siller said.
The importance of the automotive industry lies in the fact that it represents 3.8% of the national gross domestic product (GDP) and 20.5% of the manufacturing gross domestic product (GDP), more than any other sector, according to the Mexican Association of the Automotive Industry (AMIA). ).
The automotive sector was completely paralyzed during the health emergency decreed by the Government of Mexico in April and May 2020, the year in which the GDP contracted 8.2%.
After a substantial drop of 16.51% in vehicle manufacturing last December, the production of automobiles in Mexican plants had a decrease of 2% annually in 2021 due to the shortage of semiconductor chips.
