There are several factors that could support a rebound in car sales in Indonesia this year. Firstly, the government of Indonesia is eager to enhance infrastructure development across the nation. Secondly, Indonesia's financial authorities - Financial Services Authority (OJK) and Bank Indonesia - are eager to cut the relatively high lending rates in Indonesia. This should make it cheaper to finance a car purchase through credit from a financial institution. Thirdly, Indonesia's state-owned oil & gas company Pertamina announced on Tuesday (15/03) it cut unsubsidized fuel prices (in line with the movement of global oil prices earlier this year). However, the price of Premium, the widely used low-octane gasoline, remains unchanged at IDR 7,050 per liter.

Based on the aforementioned, Gaikindo expects Indonesia's car sales to rise by 5 percent year-on-year (y/y) in 2016. Car sales in the first quarter of the year will still be sluggish but particularly in the second half of the year sales should increase on the back of improving macroeconomic conditions.

Further Reading: Analysis & Overview of Indonesia's Automotive Industry

However, Indonesian car exports fell sharply in February 2016. The latest data from Statistics Indonesia (BPS) show that the value of Indonesian car exports and car parts plunged 17.4 percent (y/y) to USD $389.1 million in February. Particularly exports to the Middle East fell sharply amid low crude oil prices.

Indonesian Car Sales (CBU):

 Month    Sold Cars
      2012
   Sold Cars
      2013
   Sold Cars
      2014
   Sold Cars
      2015
   Sold Cars
      2016
 January      76,427      96,718     103,609      94,194      84,885
 February      86,486     103,278     111,824      88,740      88,250
 March      87,917      95,996     113,067      99,410
 April      87,144     102,257     106,124      81,600
 May      95,541      99,697      96,872      79,375
 June     101,746     104,268     110,614      82,172
 July     102,511     112,178      91,334      55,615
 August      76,445      77,964      96,652      90,537
 September     102,100     115,974     102,572      93,038
 October     106,754     112,039     105,222      88,408
 November     103,703     111,841      91,327      86,938
 December      89,456      97,706      78,802      73,264
 Total    1,116,230
   1,229,916
   1,208,019    1,013,291

 

     2008    2009    2010    2011     2012     2013     2014     2015
Car Sales
(car units)
 607,805  486,061  764,710  894,164 1,116,230
1,229,916 1,208,019 1,013,291
Car Exports
(car units)
 100,982   56,669   85,769  107,932  173,368  170,907  202,273  207,691

Source: Gaikindo

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