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Car sales see 30% decline YoY in Sept amid high prices, interest rates

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  • PAMA says 6,410 cars sold in Sept 2023. 
  • In Sept 2022, 9,213 units were sold.
  • Sales rise 8% compared to August.

KARACHI: Car sales saw a 30% decline year-on-year in September amid high prices and interest rates, The News reported citing an industry data body.

The Pakistan Automotive Manufacturers Association (PAMA) said 6,410 cars were sold in September 2023 compared to the 9,213 sold in the same month last year. However, sales rose 8% in September compared to August due to the lifting of import restrictions.

For the first quarter of the fiscal year 2023/24, passenger car sales dropped 44% to 16,021 units, compared with 28,571 units in the same period last year.

Sales of 1,300cc and above cars declined by 38% to reach 2,939 units, last year sales of such cars was 4,715 units. However, it increased by 27% against 2,310 units in August.

In September, 691 units of 1,000cc were sold compared to 1,517 units sold during the same month last year. Below 1,000cc vehicles recorded a sale of 2,780 units, down 7% against 2,981 units of last year. This category of cars also recorded a month-on-month decline against 2,935 units in August.

At least 185 units of buses and trucks were sold in September 2023 compared to the 378 units sold in the same month last year. Sales increased on a month-on-month basis against 167 units in August.

On the other hand, the sale of jeeps and pick-ups declined to 1,902 units from 2,075 units sold during the same period last year. But like all other categories, it saw an increase on a month-on-month basis. Sales of tractors rose to 5,445 units from 2,149 units in September last year.

The sale of rickshaws and motorbikes increased to 107,084 units during September 23 against 99,581 units in the same period last year.

Topline Securities Analyst Sunny Kumar credited the monthly increase in car sales to the easing of import issues for completely knocked down (CKD) kits on which the car manufacturers rely for the assembly of cars.

“However, escalating car prices, expensive auto financing and the low purchasing power of consumers are among the primary reasons for the decline in year-on-year sales,” he added.

Among manufacturers, Honda Atlas Car (HCAR) recorded the highest increase of 99% month-on-month, as it sold 1,342 units in Sep-2023 but it was largely due to the low base the company had the previous month when it was only able to sell 674 units.

Pak Suzuki (PSMC) was the only one that recorded a decline of 1% month-on-month to 4,234 units in Sep-2023 led by 8% month-on-month decline in sales of Alto. Other variants including Ravi, Bolan and Cultus recorded an increase of 58% month-on-month, 38% month-on-month and 9% month-on-month, respectively. Swift and Wagon-R sales remain flat month-on-month at 506 and 359 units in Sep-2023.

Business

Pakistan’s gold prices are still declining; see the most recent

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The price of 10-gram gold reduced by Rs943 to settle at Rs207,733, while the price of gold dropped by Rs1200 to close at Rs242,300 a tola, according to the Sindh Sarafa Jewellers Association.

In the global market, the price of the precious metal fell by $10 to $2,349 per ounce, resulting in losses.

At 04:48 GMT, the spot price of gold had dropped by 0.2% to $2,354.77 per ounce. In the previous session, prices reached a two-week high.

American gold futures dropped 0.6% to $2,361.

Spot silver decreased by 0.4% to $28.03 per ounce, while palladium remained steady at $978.03 and platinum decreased by 0.1% to $992.89.

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Business

Pakistan and the IMF begin talks for a new loan.

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Pakistan is requesting a $6 to $8 billion bailout package from the international lender over the next three to four years to address its financial troubles.

A mission team led by Nathan Porter, the IMF’s Mission Chief in Pakistan, is meeting with a Pakistani delegation led by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb.

According to sources familiar with the situation, Islamabad may face more difficult options, such as raising power and gas bills.

Mr. Aurganzeb informed the IMF team that the country’s economy has improved as a result of the IMF loan package, and Islamabad is ready to sign a new loan programme to further develop.

The IMF mission expressed satisfaction with Islamabad’s efforts to revive the country’s struggling economy.

The IMF praised Pakistan’s economic growth in its staff report earlier this week, but warned that the outlook remains challenging, with very high downside risks.

The country nearly avoided collapse last summer, and its $350 billion economy has stabilized since the end of the last IMF program, with inflation falling to roughly 17% in April from a record high of 38% last May.

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Business

Petrol prices are likely to drop significantly beginning May 16.

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According to sources, the government is set to decrease petrol prices by Rs 14 per litre and diesel prices by Rs 10 on May 16 for the next fortnight’s revision.

Last month, the government reduced the price of fuel and high-speed diesel by Rs5.45 and Rs8.42 per fortnight, respectively.

The current fuel price is Rs288.49 per litre, while the HSD price is Rs281.96.

Meanwhile, oil prices fell further on Monday, as signs of sluggish fuel consumption and comments from U.S. Federal Reserve officials dimmed optimism for interest rate reduction, which may slow growth and reduce fuel demand in the world’s largest economy.

Brent crude prices down 25 cents, or 0.3%, to $82.54 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate crude futures fell 19 cents, or 0.2%, to $78.07 per barrel.

Oil prices also declined on signals of poor demand, according to ANZ analysts, as gasoline and distillate inventories in the United States increased in the week before the start of the driving season.

Refiners throughout the world are dealing with falling diesel profitability as new refineries increase supply and warm weather in the northern hemisphere and weak economic activity reduce demand.

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