Japanese automaker reports steep fall in Middle East shipments as geopolitical tensions weigh on global sales and trade flows.
Toyota Motor Corporation reported a sharp decline in exports to the Middle East in April, as ongoing regional tensions continued to disrupt trade activity and weaken consumer demand.
According to company data released on Thursday, Toyota’s exports from Japan to the Middle East plunged 91.7% year-on-year to 2,418 vehicles during the month.
The weak regional performance contributed to a broader decline in the automaker’s global sales, which fell 3.1% to 849,306 vehicles in April, marking the third consecutive month of lower sales for the world’s largest automaker by volume.
Toyota’s overseas sales declined 7.5% to 699,382 units. In the United States, sales dropped 4.6% to 222,378 vehicles, while sales in the Middle East fell 33.7% to 31,360 units as geopolitical instability continued to affect business activity and supply chains.
Despite weaker international demand, Toyota posted strong growth in its domestic market. Sales in Japan rose 24.2% to 149,924 vehicles, supported by increased consumer demand ahead of the abolition of the environmental performance tax at the end of March.
On the production side, Toyota reported mixed results. Global vehicle production increased 2% year-on-year to a record 831,971 units in April. Overseas production climbed 3.8% to 567,578 vehicles, helping offset a 1.7% decline in domestic production, which totaled 264,393 units.
The latest figures underscore the challenges facing global automakers as geopolitical tensions, supply chain disruptions, and changing consumer demand continue to impact international markets.
