TAPA 2010 Generated US$14.19 Million Sales During 5-Day Exhibition

Thailand played host to visitors from 27 countries at the Thailand Auto Parts & Accessories (TAPA) 2010 exhibition from April 28-May 2 at the Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Center.

The exhibition generated total sales worth THB 454.02 million (US$14.19 million) during the 5-day exhibition. For the 3 trade days, a total of THB 452.34 million (US$14.14 million) sales were transacted, an increase of 751.81% as compared to 2008. A total of THB 17.17 million (US$536,520) immediate purchases were transacted at the exhibition while future orders for delivery in the next 12 months were valued at THB 435.17 million (US$13.6 million).

Revenues generated from the 2 public days were worth THB 1.68 million (US$52,516), a growth of 78.7% as compared to 2008.

TAPA 2010 welcomed a total of 3,019 trade visitors, 78% local and 22% from abroad. Countries with the most trade visitors were Malaysia, India, Pakistan, Egypt, Turkey, Philippines, China, Indonesia, Japan and Australia. The number of exhibitors increased 13.3% to 323 companies with 693 booths.

Asst.Prof. Veerasak Jinarat, Vice Minister of Commerce, Thailand said over the past two decades, Thailand has successfully developed a dynamic and rapidly expanding automobile industry, with many of the world’s leading brands having a presence in the country.

“Exports of automobiles, auto parts and accessories for January and February 2010 increased 60.23% year-on-year to US$ 3.3 billion,” he said at the opening ceremony of TAPA 2010.

“Auto parts and accessories exports were valued at US$ 1.245 billion for the first two months of 2010 and with advance orders, we are estimating a 20% increase in exports to US$ 17 billion by the end of 2010,” he added.

TAPA 2010 featured ASEAN Pavilion, which saw participation from Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam. Mr. Jinarat said Thailand hopes to play a leading role to turn ASEAN into a regional hub for auto parts and accessories.

“The automobile and auto parts industries play an important economic role within ASEAN and exhibitions such as TAPA underline Thailand’s strong government’s commitment to this role,” said Mr. Jinarat.

TAPA 2010 was organized by the Department of Export Promotion, together with Thai Auto-Part Manufacturers Association. The next edition of TAPA will be held in 2012.

For more information, visit: www.thailandautopartsfair.com or contact sasikarn.watt@frost.com