Imports of cars increase

There were 10,271 used passenger vehicles imported into New Zealand during August, which was 19.5 per cent more than in the same month a year ago.

Last month’s total included 10,093 cars arriving from Japan, which claimed a market share of 98.3 per cent, according to the figures from Customs NZ.

Next up in August was Australia with 96 units and 0.9 per cent of the monthly total. The UK claimed third place with 29 and was followed by the US on 22 and Singapore with 15.

The overall total meant 1,677 more units crossed our borders than the 8,594 recorded in August 2022. 

However, the latest monthly figure represented a 6.7 per cent drop from the 11,014 used cars imported in July this year.

The year-to-date tally stands at 77,862 vehicles, which is up by 18.8 per cent from 65,545 at the same stage of 2022.

As for used light commercials, there were 424 imports in August. This was down by 14.5 per cent from 496 units a year ago, but up by 20 per cent from the 351 units imported in July.
The total for the first eight months of the year stands at 2,880, which was 72 more units than for the same period a year ago.

New imports

There were 10,464 new passenger vehicles imported in August, which represented a 5.4 per cent increase from the 9,928 units in the same month of last year. 

Last month’s figure was also up by 26.7 per cent from July when 8,261 new cars crossed our borders.

Japan was the top source of new vehicles, accounting for 4,148 units, with Thailand second on 1,417. Spain, South Korea, Belgium and Germany were next on the list with 1,009, 997, 630 and 615 units, respectively.

The year-to-date figure of 63,662 is 10.3 per cent lower than the 70,984 recorded at the same stage of last year.

For new light commercials, there were 2,887 units imported last month. This total was down by 32.4 per cent from the 4,271 seen in August 2022, but up by 45.3 per cent from 1,987 in July.

The sector’s year-to-date tally stood at 18,247 at the end of August, which was down by 9.8 per cent from the 20,238 units imported during the same period of 2022.

Overall, 24,688 vehicles, including trucks and buses, crossed our border in August, which was up from 22,102 during the previous month.