Wholesale vehicle sales up nearly 6%

The seasonally adjusted total sales value for wholesale trade rose 3.0 per cent in the December 2017 quarter, after rising 1.4 per cent in the September quarter. The December rise was the seventh-consecutive quarterly rise and the largest since the September 2010 quarter, when the value rose 3.8 per cent. By industry, basic materials wholesaling had the largest increase in sales value, up 6.3 per cent ($354 million) from the September quarter when adjusted for seasonal effects. “Other agricultural products wholesaling was the main contributor to the increase in basic materials industry,” wholesale trade manager Sue Chapman said. Other agricultural products wholesaling includes businesses supplying products such as livestock, feed, seed, and fertiliser. Petroleum products and hardware goods also made sizeable contributions to the increase in basic materials. Machinery and equipment had the second-largest rise of all industries, up 3.3 per cent ($167million). Machinery and equipment includes agricultural and construction machinery, computer and computer peripherals, telecommunication goods, and professional and scientific goods. Motor vehicles The third-largest rise in sales value by industry was in motor vehicles and parts, including cars and trucks, up 5.9 per cent ($153 million) in the December quarter. This rise follows a 3.0 percent fall in the September quarter. "The sales rise in motor vehicles and parts wholesaling coincides with a recent increase in retail sales of vehicles and parts," Ms Chapman said. "Retail trade survey for the December 2017 quarter showed that motor vehicles and parts sales rose in both value and volume." Wholesale vehicle stocks up 7.2 per cent The total value of wholesale trade stocks held at 31 December 2017 was $11.6 billion, up 7.2 per cent ($781 million) when compared with 31 December 2016. Stocks rose from the December 2016 quarter in all the six wholesale industries, with motor vehicles and motor-vehicle parts leading the rise. Motor vehicles and motor-vehicle parts were up 16 per cent ($285 million) in the December quarter, when compared with the same period in 2016.