JAKARTA, Aug 25 (Reuters) - Indonesian motorcycle sales in July jumped 30.25 percent year on year to 266,695 units, a fresh indication of strengthening domestic demand in the economy, an industry body said on Monday.
The Association of Indonesian Motorcycle Producers, which accounts for 90 percent of sales in Indonesia, said in a statement that July sales were also stronger than June's 231,523 units.
Indonesian motorcycle sales are a key gauge of domestic consumption, which accounts for about 70 percent of the gross domestic product in the world's fourth most populous country.
The association said for the first seven months of this year sales tallied slightly higher than 1.5 million motorcycles, up 19.28 percent from the same period last year.
The group has forecast members would sell 2.5 million to 2.6 million units this year, up from 2.29 million in 2002.
Sales soared 45 percent last year to a record high, topping a 1997 peak just before the Asian financial crisis hit the sector.
The association covers all brands except Chinese, which are not significant in terms of market share. Data on Chinese brands was not immediately available.
Monthly details from the association:
July June May
Honda 151,103 125,149 112,061
Suzuki 54,793 50,909 38,200
Yamaha 53,181 48,695 41,949
Others 7,618 6,770 4,885
Total 266,695 231,523 197,095
Annual motorcycles sales (in millions):
2003 2.5-2.6 (forecast)
2002 2.29
2001 1.58
2000 0.86
1999 0.49
1998 0.43
1997 1.80