Overly concentrated import market, China's auto parts supply risk

According to customs statistics, in the first three quarters of this year, Guangdong Province imported a total of 2.43 billion U.S. dollars worth of auto parts, an increase of 5.3% over the same period of last year, which was a decrease of 22.7 percentage points from the same period of last year.

I. Main features of the import of automobile parts in Guangdong in the first three quarters of this year (I) The monthly import value increased for the fourth consecutive month. Since the beginning of this year, the import value of auto parts in Guangdong province has shown a tendency of constraining growth, setting a peak value of US$320 million in January, and has continued to decline since then, dropping to a trough of US$200 million in May, and maintaining a sequential growth rate for four consecutive months thereafter. In September, the import value reached US$320 million, a significant year-on-year increase of 31.2% and a year-on-year increase of 1.2% (pictured).

(2) Imports of general trade are the mainstay, and bonded imports have increased rapidly. In the first three quarters, Guangdong Province imported 2.17 billion U.S. dollars in automobile parts by general trade, a slight decrease of 1.8%, accounting for 89.3% of the total value of auto parts imports in Guangdong during the same period; bonded inspection sites imported 180 million U.S. dollars, a substantial increase of 6.1 times, accounting for 7.6 %.

(C) Japan is the main import market. In the first three quarters, Guangdong Province imported 2.08 billion U.S. dollars worth of auto parts from Japan, up 3.4%, accounting for 85.7% of the total value of auto parts imports in Guangdong during the same period, and imported 230 million U.S. dollars or 24.1% from the EU.

(4) Foreign-invested enterprises dominate imports. In the first three quarters, foreign-invested enterprises in Guangdong Province imported 1.74 billion U.S. dollars worth of auto parts, an increase of 5.7%, accounting for 71.7% of the total value of auto parts imports in Guangdong during the same period; state-owned enterprises imported 600 million U.S. dollars, an increase of 4.4%, accounting for 24.6%.

Second, the first three quarters of Guangdong Province, the main reason for the slowdown in the growth of auto parts imports (A) the domestic auto market cooling, demand growth has slowed down significantly. Since the beginning of this year, due to the continued rise in domestic oil prices, the expiration of automobile incentive policies, and the introduction of some city-restricted purchase policies, domestic automobile production and sales have ended the rapid growth momentum in 2010, and the growth rate has slowed down significantly. According to data from the China Automobile Association, the cumulative production and sales of domestic automobiles in the first three quarters of this year totaled 13.46 million vehicles and 13.63 million vehicles, an increase of 2.75% and 3.62% year-on-year, far below the growth rates of 36% and 35.97% in the first three quarters of 2010. Vehicle sales fell by 4.8%. The slow growth of domestic automobile sales has, to a certain extent, restricted the demand for auto parts and led to a slowdown in the growth of auto parts imports in Guangdong.

(2) The earthquake and tsunami caused tight supply of auto parts in Japan. Japan is the largest import market for auto parts in Guangdong Province, and its import value accounts for more than 85% of the total value of auto parts imports in Guangdong. The 9.0-magnitude earthquake in Japan in March this year caused a major tsunami that hit Japan’s auto manufacturing industry, triggering a tight global supply of automotive parts and components, coupled with the adverse impact of the sharp appreciation of the Japanese yen on its exports, 3 Japan’s auto parts exports have slowed down significantly since the month. From the import data, in March, Guangdong Province imported auto parts to Japan for four consecutive months of decline, including a decline of 31% in April, which led directly to a 24.1% decline in auto parts imports in Guangdong, the largest decline this year.

Third, the current major problems in the import of auto parts and related recommendations (A) over-reliance on Japan's imports there is a risk. At present, China’s major imported auto parts come from Japan, mainly due to Japan’s large investment in factories in Japan to produce Japanese cars. Its control of core components has made some key components such as engines and transmissions highly dependent on imports. The package still stays at the low end. At present, China's auto parts imports from Japan involve 770 companies such as FAW, Toyota, Dongfeng, Honda, and General Motors, most of which are automotive core components. The over-concentration of the import market has made domestic car companies respond to emergencies in a passive situation. In particular, the Japanese companies' production and sales patterns with production and low inventory have caused their product supply security systems to be insufficient, and have provided stability to China's auto parts supply. Has an adverse effect.

(b) The lack of core competitiveness in the domestic auto parts industry. The automotive parts industry is a very important part of the automotive industry chain. In the global automobile industry value chain, the value of auto parts has accounted for 50% of the total value. The strength of the auto parts industry is related to the strength of the entire auto industry. However, although China has become a global leader in automobile production and sales, the auto parts industry is still very fragile, with small companies and weak competitiveness. From the recent "AutomotiveNews" released by the world's top 100 auto parts suppliers in 2010, the United States, Japan and Germany accounted for 30, 28, and 17, respectively, accounting for 75% of all, China as the world's largest auto market No one company is short-listed. At present, "high pollution, low cost, consumables, energy consumption, manpower, and energy consumption." "One high, one low, and four consumptions" are still the main characteristics of China's auto parts imports. The concentration of domestic auto parts industry is low and large. Some of the production capacity is concentrated in low-end products, and homogenization competition is serious. Long-term, low-cost and malicious competition leads to disorderly markets and the industrial level cannot be effectively improved.

(3) Foreign capital accelerates penetration and dominates the domestic auto parts industry. At present, foreign companies control the majority of domestic auto parts market share through sole proprietorships, joint ventures, etc. Domestic auto parts sales account for only 20% to 25% of the entire industry, and auto parts factories with a foreign investment background account for the entire industry. %the above. Especially in high-tech areas such as automotive electronics and engine parts, the foreign market share is as high as 90%, among which the output of key components such as automotive EFI systems, engine management systems, ABS and airbags, and automatic transmissions, etc. The proportions reached 100%, 100%, 91% and 69% respectively. Local components are mainly used in self-owned brands, which have a low market share and restrict the development of the entire industry.

Suggestions for this: First, pay attention to the introduction of foreign advanced production technologies, go through overseas mergers and acquisitions, overseas investment, and other ways to learn advanced foreign production technology and management experience; Second, encourage and support domestic enterprises to strengthen scientific research and increase technology Investing, mastering production core technologies, improving self-sufficiency and enhancing the overall competitiveness of the industry; Third, expanding import channels, strengthening cooperation and R&D of car companies in Europe and the United States, enhancing the supply of domestic auto parts, improving the construction of supporting systems in the domestic market, and ensuring the health of the auto industry. development of.