June imports mixed

Motor vehicle imports rose 4.9 per cent in June to a total 31,818 units, according to the latest New Zealand Customs motor vehicle statistics. Month-on-month, used passenger imports fell 6.6 per cent to 15,570 vehicles, but were up 14.2 per cent compared to June last year. Japanese imports were down 7.2 per cent to 14,589 units, a 93.6 per cent market share. Australian used passenger imports were down eight per cent to 477 units, followed by Singapore, which doubled to 187 units, and Great Britain, down 20.5 per cent to 151 units. New passenger vehicles, however, increased 16.6 per cent to 11,256 units, a 25.2 per cent increase compared to June 2016. Imports of new vehicles from Japan rose 37.8 per cent month-on-month, followed by Thailand, up 33 per cent to 1,627 units. German imports were down 16 per cent to 1,220 units, and imports from Korea fell 24 per cent to 1,166 vehicles. New passenger vehicle imports from Australia recovered slightly from May’s freefall, up 137 per cent to 180 units, but well short of the 444 units imported in April. Used commercials held steady, up 3.3 per cent to 725 units in May, a year-on-year increase of 29.7 per cent. Japan continues to hold the market, up 4.5 per cent to 647 units, an 89.3 per cent market share. New commercial vehicle imports were up 30.7 per cent month-on-month to 4,169 units. This is 79.8 per cent higher than in June 2016. Thailand topped the table, with imports up 28.9 per cent to 3,021 units, 72.4 per cent of the market.   Japanese imports rose 42.4 per cent month-on-month to 571 units, followed by China, which doubled to 224 units.