Indonesia's Motorcycle Exports Rise Sharply in May 2017
Not only Indonesia's domestic motorcycle sales rose in May 2017. Also exports of motorcycles from Indonesia grew rapidly in May. Based on the latest data from the Indonesian Motorcycle Industry Association (AISI), motorcycle exports from Indonesia rose 33.7 percent year-on-year (y/y) to 31,631 units in May. This growth was attributed to exporters' successful efforts to enlarge export markets (including adding new markets).
Meanwhile, Indonesia's motorcycle exports in the January-May 2017 period rose 27.4 percent to 155,034 units from 121,442 units in the same period one year earlier.
Of the five Indonesian motorcycle manufacturers that ship their output abroad, only Kawasaki Motor Indonesia recorded a decline in exports in the January-May 2017 period. The others - Yamaha Indonesia Motor Manufacturing, Astra Honda Motor, Suzuki Indomobil Sales, and TVS Motor Company Indonesia - showed good growth (see table below).
Sigit Kumala, Chairman of Aisi, said May exports are a great improvement from the small decline that was detected in the preceding month. In April 2016 Indonesia's motorcycle exports slid modestly as several export destination countries (for example the Philippines) experienced some domestic troubles that made local consumers decide to postpone the purchase of a motorcycle.
The recovery in May was not only attributed to Indonesian manufacturers' efforts to enlarge their export markets but also to the fact that manufacturers started to offer a wider variety of motorcycle units to the international audience.
Motorcycle Exports from Indonesia:
| Brand | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017¹ |
| Yamaha | 19,820 | 151,220 | 167,266 | 87,613 |
| Honda | 4,410 | 26,199 | 59,311 | 44,353 |
| Suzuki | 117 | 25,558 | 28,484 | 10,483 |
| TVS | 12,539 | 16,195 | 21,712 | 11.035 |
| Kawasaki | 4,860 | 9,057 | 7,292 | 1,550 |
¹ January-May 2017
Sources: Bisnis Indonesia