Car imports fall in January

Vietnam’s auto imports fell by 70 percent last month to 4,524 units, but the industry dismissed it as a normal January phenomenon after a surge in imports in December.

The passenger car segment saw a 53 percent decline to 4,008.

Though down by more than half from December, Thailand remained the largest seller, shipping 2,488 units.

Indonesia followed with 472 vehicles.

Truck imports plunged by 93.5 percent to 260, almost all of it from China and Thailand.

Auto companies said companies usually import large numbers of vehicles in December to prepare for the New Year and Tet shopping season, and so numbers fall in January before recovering again in February and March.

Imports of car parts and equipment fell by 7.8 percent to $395 million.

South Korea, China and Thailand were the biggest exporters.