Toyota's April Export Volume To Middle East Plunges 91.7 Pct

TOKYO, May 28 (Bernama-Kyodo) -- Toyota Motor Corp. said Thursday its exports from Japan to the Middle East plunged 91.7 per cent in April from a year earlier to 2,418 units amid the conflict in the region, Kyodo News reported.

Toyota's global sales fell 3.1 per cent to 849,306 vehicles, marking the third consecutive month of decline, while global output rose 2.0 per cent to 831,971 units, a record high for the month.

Overseas sales by the world's largest automaker by volume dropped 7.5 per cent to 699,382 units, with sales in the United States declining 4.6 per cent to 222,378 vehicles despite continued solid demand for hybrid vehicles in North America.

Sales in the Middle East dipped 33.7 per cent to 31,360 vehicles, while those in China saw a 25.4 per cent drop to 106,479 cars amid intensifying competition.

However, sales in Japan jumped 24.2 per cent to 149,924 units, helped by demand from consumers who had held off purchases ahead of the abolition of the environmental performance tax at the end of March.

Toyota's overseas production climbed 3.8 per cent to 567,578 cars, also hitting a record high for the month, with output in India surging 38.5 per cent to 33,770 units, reflecting increased operating days.

Output in North America fell 3.3 per cent to 198,098 vehicles, while domestic production edged down 1.7 per cent to 264,393 units.

-- BERNAMA-KYODO