Malaysian auto sales dropped 9.5 percent in May year-on-year because of a shortfall in production caused by the effects of Japan's quake-tsunami, an industry group said Friday.

The Malaysian Automotive Association (MAA) warned that although consumer appetite for new vehicles remained, production had not yet fully recovered from parts supply problems caused by supply chain disruptions after Japan's natural disasters.

"Shortfall in production from April 2011 resulted in insufficient supply to cater for deliveries," the MAA said in a statement.

The huge earthquake and tsunami it spawned badly affected parts suppliers in Japan's northeast, freezing supply chains and sending ripples through the global auto sector.

Malaysia is Southeast Asia's biggest passenger car market.

The MAA said production in May fell to 38,909 units compared with 48,845 units in the same month last year.

Meanwhile, sales stood at 46,045 units for May compared with 50,883 units a year earlier.

However, cumulative sales for the year until May were 255,413 units, up 3.4 percent compared with the same period last year.

Production in the year's first five months was down to 230,676 units from 241,658 units for the same period last year.

The MAA predicted sales volumes would remain depressed in June as supply problems continued to put pressure on deliveries.

- AFP