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Japan increases share of used imports

Number of used vehicles brought into the country holds steady month-to-month but the new sector slides over same period.
Posted on 05 May, 2022
Japan increases share of used imports

There were 8,018 used passenger vehicles imported into New Zealand during April, which is 19.2 per cent lower than for the same month a year ago when there were 9,922 units.

The latest figure was also 2.9 per cent down from March this year when 8,259 used cars were imported.

Last month’s total included 7,639 cars coming from Japan, which claimed a market share of 95.3 per cent, according to the figures from Customs NZ. This was more than its year-to-date share of 94.6 per cent.

Next up in April was Australia with 242 units and three per cent of the monthly total. Singapore claimed third place with 47 and the UK and the US were tied in fourth with 37 units each.

The overall total meant 1,904 fewer units crossed our borders than in April 2021. 

The year-to-date tally stands at 30,369 vehicles, which is 30.2 per cent lower than at the same stage of 2021 when it stood at 43,520.

As for used light commercials, there were 310 imports in April – a 3.7 per cent drop from 322 units a year ago. 

Last month’s figure was only two units higher than the 308 vehicles imported in March.

The total for the first four months of the year stands at 1,303, an increase of 11.5 per cent from 1,169 during the same period of 2021.

New imports drop

There were 8,871 new passenger vehicles imported in April, which represented a 3.7 per cent decrease from the 8,032 units in the same month of last year. 

The latest monthly figure was also a drop of 15.7 per cent from March this year when 10,522 new cars crossed our borders.

Japan was the top source of new vehicles, accounting for 4,304 units, with South Korea second on 1,219. Next on the list were China with 600 units, Thailand on 588, Belgium recording 584 and Germany on 570.

The year-to-date figures of 34,683 are 5.5 per cent lower than the 36,701 recorded at the same stage a year ago.

For new light commercials, there were 2,472 units imported last month, which was 31.8 per cent less than the 3,626 seen in April 2021. 

The total was also 11.1 per cent lower than the 2,780 units brought into the country during March.

Year-to-date there have been 10,766 new light commercials imported, a decrease of 12.2 per cent from 12,267 units after the first four months of 2021.

Overall, 20,237 vehicles, including trucks and buses, crossed our border in April, which was down from 20,237 the previous month. It takes the year-to-date total to 80,896.