According to NAAMSA the overall domestic sales figures had eased despite continued growth in the medium and heavy commercial vehicle segments as indicated in the new vehicle sales statistics for the month of November 2018.

Monthly export sales had continued to record modest gains in line with industry expectations. Work stoppages and unprocedural industrial action at various manufacturing plants would have impacted on industry production and export numbers.

November, 2018 aggregate export vehicle sales had turned in another positive performance and at 34 352 vehicles had registered an improvement of 824 units or a modest gain of 2.5% compared to the 33 528 vehicles exported in October last year. The momentum of export sales had improved over the past few months and, taking into account relatively strong order books reported by most vehicle exporters, exports should improve further and reflect strong growth in 2019 and subsequent years.

See links below for the full media release from NAAMSA and statistics for November 2018 Industry New Vehicle Sales.

A Port Elizabeth-based company, Mend A Bath International, hopes to extend its franchise network to North Africa when it participates in the Outward Trade and Investment Mission to Tunisia this week. The mission, which takes place from 2-6 December 2018 is organised and funded by the Department of Trade and Industry.

The purpose of the mission is to provide South African companies with a platform to introduce their products and services into the Tunisian market and beyond. The mission will comprise of a trade and investment seminar, business-to-business meetings and site visits.

The Director and co-owner of Mend a Bath, Mr Ian Moore says his main objective for travelling to Tunisia is to find either a franchisee or a distributor for his company’s bath resurfacing coating products in Tunisia.

“We have been to several trade missions and international trade exhibitions with the DTI looking for new business in various export markets. We are already exporting to quite a number of countries in the rest of Africa and beyond. We are optimistic that we will soon add Tunisia on the list of countries we are doing business in.  We are also confident that finding a franchisee or distributor in Tunisia will also enable us to establish ourselves in other North African countries as we are currently not exporting to the region,” says Moore.

Mend A Bath has established itself as an important global franchise network in refinishing and resurfacing of sanitary ware. They have been refinishing baths, washbasins, tiles and shower bases in homes, hotels, hospitals and other institutions globally for more than 35 years. Their coating products are already exported to more than twenty countries in Southern Africa, East Africa, West Africa, Europe and Oceania.

The mission to Tunisia is expected to contribute in increasing bilateral trade and investment between South Africa and Tunisia. Bilateral trade between the two countries totalled just over R500 million in 2017.

For any DTI enquiries, contact Sidwell Medupe (Departmental Spokesperson) at 012 394 1650 or 079 492 1774 or email MSMedupe@thedti.gov.za.