MEXICO CITY, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) -- Vehicle production in Mexico fell by 1.05 percent in September compared to the same period in 2017, the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (Inegi) said Friday.
The manufacture of units during September was 320,071, compared to 323,474 during the same period in 2017, according to the automotive light vehicle industry's administrative registry.
Between January and September of this year, vehicle production grew 0.55 percent to reach 2,953,735 vehicles, Inegi said.
In 2017, Mexico produced a record of 3,773,569 vehicles, placing it seventh among worldwide producers of light and heavyweight vehicles. Mexico's automotive trade is primarily oriented to the United States market.
Inegi said that in September, 306,003 units were exported, which reflects an expansion of 6.84 percent, compared to 286,400 sold abroad during the same month last year.
During the first nine months of the year, exports grew 7.54 percent to surpass 2.57 million vehicles, according to the Inegi report.
This is the first time Inegi has published data from the sector, which traditionally has been released by the Mexican Association of the Automotive Industry (AMIA) which is made up of 21 companies.
The new trade agreement between the United States, Mexico and Canada, completed on September 30, now known as USMCA, raised the rule of origin for the North American automotive industry.
Eduardo Solis, president of AMIA, said recently that the measure implies great challenges for the Mexican automotive sector.
