US auto sales jump 14% in Dec, best month of 2009

05 January 2010 22:41  [Source: ICIS news]

HOUSTON (ICIS news)--Sales of US automobiles peaked in the last month of 2009 with a 14% increase versus December 2008, data released on Tuesday showed, ushering in a new year of optimism for car companies and the chemical producers that supply them.

Vehicles leaving car lots from the six major manufacturers in December totalled 842,458 units compared with 736,042 cars and trucks in December 2008, according to statistics compiled by ICIS news.

December's gains showed the only positive monthly sales mark of the year and are substantially better than the 40% or more declines in the first quarter of 2009.

However, there were two more selling days in December 2009 versus 2008, when the US economy and car industry were ailing from the global downturn, skewing year-over-year comparisons.

Ford led the industry's increases with a 33% jump in sales, with Toyota close behind posting a 32% spike compared with December 2008.

"Emerging from the rollercoaster of 2009, the industry has gained positive momentum for a gradual recovery," according to a statement by Don Esmond, Toyota's senior vice president of automotive operations in the US.

Honda sold 24% more cars and trucks in December, prompting confidence for the coming year.

"The good news is that the market appears to be stabilising, and we have more reasons for optimism in 2010," according to a statement by John Mendel, Honda's US top executive. "There seems to be light at the end of the tunnel; let's hope it's not another train coming, but rather, brighter days ahead."

Robust sales in the auto industry translate into demand for chemical producers who supply car parts makers.

The American Chemistry Council (ACC) estimates that 331lb (150kg) of plastics is used in every automobile made in the US and an average of $2,700 (€1,863) worth of chemical products or chemical processing value goes into every US-made vehicle.

Chrysler and General Motors (GM) were the only two car manufacturers to record year-over-year losses. GM attributed the sour figures to a drop in fleet sales as well as sales of Saturn and Pontiac brands, which the company will relinquish shortly.

The table below reflects December sales.

	2009			2008
	Car	Truck	Total	Car	Truck	Total	% change
Chrysler	26,830	59,693	86,523	20,535	69,278	89,813	-4
Ford	61,195	117,822	179,017	43,087	91,027	134,114	33
GM	79,417	129,094	208,511	87,506	134,477	221,983	-6
Honda	61,020	46,123	107,143	50,918	35,167	86,085	24
Nissan	47,139	26,265	73,404	38,506	23,595	62,101	18
Toyota	113,984	73,876	187,860	79,256	62,690	141,946	32
Total	389,585	452,873	842,458	319,808	416,234	736,042	14

($1 = €0.69)

Paul Hodges studies key influencers shaping the chemical industry in Chemicals and the Economy
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