PH motorcycle sales up 3.58% in H1 amid soaring fuel prices

MANILA, Philippines — Sales of motorcycles bucked a second-quarter slowdown to post a 3.58-percent increase in the first half, as more Filipinos opted for less fuel-hungry two-wheelers amid soaring oil prices caused by the Middle East conflict. According to the Motorcycle Development Program Participants Association (MDPPA), motorcycle sales reached 939,528 units from January to June, up from 907,054 units in the same period last year. READ: About P7/liter fuel price hike set on July 28 The figures were based on sales by MDPPA members Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki and Yamaha. That expansion came despite sales contracting by 4.2 percent in the second quarter, when dealers sold 442,660 units. This decline followed a strong first quarter, during which motorcycle sales had risen 11.6 percent to 496,868 units. MDPPA president Erwin Estrada said the first-half performance showed that motorcycles remain a preferred mode of transportation for many Filipinos, thanks to their affordability and fuel efficiency. “The first half of the year reflects the resilience of the Philippine motorcycle industry,” Estrada said in a statement. “While market conditions have become more challenging compared with last year’s exceptionally strong performance, motorcycles continue to meet the everyday mobility needs of Filipinos.” By comparison, car sales fell 11.4 percent in the first half to 204,557 units. For two-wheelers, automatic motorcycles remained the best-selling segment, selling 655,004 units. MDPPA attributed this to their “convenience, fuel efficiency and practicality for everyday commuting.” READ: DOH: 70% of holiday road crashes involved motorcycles Business motorcycles ranked second with 148,989 units sold, followed by mopeds with 107,632 units. The street category reached 24,346 units, while big bikes accounted for 2,994 units and other motorcycle categories contributed 563 units. Looking ahead, the MDPPA remains optimistic about steady long-term growth. INQ