Motorcycle

After years of double-digit growth, the market of motorcycles, which in 2008 presented a slight slowdown, retrajo strongly in the first quarter of the year. Thus reflects it the fall of apparent consumption, which contracted by 62% in the first three months of 2009 with respect to the first quarter of last year. Although a slowdown was already appreciated in the motorcycle market in 2008, growing 9% compared to 2007, this retraction, so goes 2009, has a change of trend that could extend to the rest of the year. Calculation of apparent consumption arises from compute domestic production more imports of motorcycles and subtract the units destined for export. As well, the rest is apparent domestic consumption, therefore, is sold to the local market either or increases the stocks. It is worth also clarified that since the end of 2008 a process of decumulation of stocks, is giving thus the fall in sales could be less pronounced view from the demand side. Imports, including finished units and CKD for its local Assembly represent the 93.5% of the market, fell 59.1% from March 2008 to March 2009, month in which imported the fewest units of the past three years. Since September of last year are observed interannual falls.

Since 2007, the sector has seen prices increase averages of motorcycles below the overall basket of prices to the consumer and the auto market. Bikes prices have barely risen 6.9% between December 2007 and March 2009, far below the increase of 24.2% in the CPI (according to abeceb.com) and almost half of the increase of prices of cars in the same period. However, recently the prices of the motorcycle market presented a greater increase (5.1%) from June 2008 until March 2009. The CPI and the auto market grew 10.3% and 0.8%, respectively, during the same period. The rise in the prices of motorcycles is explained mainly by the depreciation of the peso against the dollar. The great participation of imports in the market, a depreciation of the domestic currency has a direct impact on prices in the sector.