BANGKOK, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- Auto exports of Thailand are expected to rise 4.54 percent year on year in 2022 to reach 1 million units, according to the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI).
The FTI expected the country's auto production to grow 6.78 percent from 2021 to 1.8 million units this year.
However, Surapong Paisitpatanapong, vice-chairman and spokesperson of the FTI, said that the FTI is still concerned over the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic which may continue to weigh on economic recovery both in Thailand and around the world.
He also said that if the global semiconductor shortage cannot being settled, it may cause Thailand's auto industry to miss its target on both production and export.
In terms of motorcycle manufacturing, the FTI estimated an increase year-on-year for 2022 to be 12.31 percent, driven mainly by overall improvement of economic activities in the Southeast Asian country. Its forecast put the total motorcycle production this year at 2 million units. ■