Imports

[Oengus]

Motorcycles imports are up one percent for 2010 over 2009, but only for the Chinese imports.
The values are only for 50cc -250cc motorcycles and includes scooters. The values are also only import values that being the cost at or coming through customs. Retail values would be higher.

http://dataweb.usitc.gov/scripts/det...87112000&DESC=

The total of imports coming from china overall are 13.8% of all 50cc to 250cc motorcycles.

Keep in mind that’s not actual sales, consider the import values of 2008.…those are selling still in 2010 so the actual sales are different then values of imports.

Within that difference there are losses on values in some cases, bikes selling below the customs values. The amount imported is a function of purchasing, that being who is willing to buy the products fell. That’s not consumers that’s distributors. The import are way down from 2008 levels.

The consumer would be a function of registration, that being how many actually were sold to individuals. Many being offered are 2006-2009 models in 2010. You would need that to know how many of the 2008 imports actually were sold to a consumer.

The 2008 imports at $150,150,500.00 was ridiculously high and I would call that pie in the sky distributors, that took the blow in 2009.

Since the Italian are in there and in the 50cc to 250cc market the reality of scooters are apparent. Then the Austrian with the realty of dual-sports and dirt bike are in that segment as well. Then so is Thailand and that is all about the Ninja 250 the top selling bike over all the models in the USA. I believe the KLR models are also coming out of Thailand as well.

Its interesting, the imports are all down except for the Chinese that are up 1%. They just keep pushing the market. But the reaction in the market place is reluctance, those that buy to sell to consumers are getting burned on the bottom line. Still importing but jsut above 2009 levels, not even close to 2008 levels or 2007 either.

The Japanese pulled back, they avoid over importing it destroys those that distribute the discounting comes on the last section of the chain. That being its a final sale from manufacturer to distributer and then to dealers...but if the final sale does not occur its just a hand off of a hot potato.

You can see more and more wholesalers disclosing costs, they come right out and tell everyone the unit costs. You can see retail prices that demonstrate a very low profit margin on the products.

Korean share is very low KYMCO scooters , the 250cc Hyosung Comet is actually made in China so it would or should be counted under Chinese imports.

The 2008 import value from china was very aggressive and it had a backlash….2009 was a year of losses for many distributors.

[Oengus]

sorry about that I forgot to add the link.....

[Oengus]

thousand of thousand are actually millions

the total import value for 50cc to 250cc was $302M for 2009 accross the entire import market 41M for 2009 chinese imports and up 1% for year to date 2010

If 2009 was horrible year then 2010 is slightly less horrible for sales.

[Oengus]

So for 2009 you could say that the average import value was $750.00 and then divide that into 41M (total import value for 50cc-250cc Chinese import bikes) and the quotient is 54K or you could say a 1000 per state? Obviously not all state are equal and these are import numbers not actually sold.

But it gives you and idea how many there are, in 2008 it was 150M import value so you can triple that to 3,000 per state and obviously you can see why there is an over stock.

[Oengus]

I looked at this again and imports of chinese 50cc-250cc are not up from year to date 2009 they are down 20% ?

Down 71% for that entire products range 50-250cc, that being all countries are down collectivley.

I am not sure where I saw the one percent? It may be rolling data and change, it year to date is now at April and that may change again and the values as well.