Mixed fortunes at border

There were 8,775 used passenger vehicles imported into New Zealand during April, which was 9.7 per cent more than in the same month a year ago.

Last month’s total included 8,608 cars arriving from Japan, which claimed a market share of 98.1 per cent, according to the figures from Customs NZ.

Next up in April was Australia with 90 units and one per cent of the monthly total. Singapore claimed third place with 27 and was followed by the UK on 24 and the US with 10.

The overall total meant 776 more units crossed our borders than the 7,999 recorded in April 2022. 

However, the latest monthly figure represented a 23.3 per cent drop from the 11,445 used cars imported in March this year.

The year-to-date tally stands at 32,840 vehicles, which is up 9.6 per cent from 29,971 at the same stage of 2022.

As for used light commercials, there were 374 imports in April. This was up 22.6 per cent from 305 units a year ago, but down 21.9 per cent from the 479 units imported in March.

The total for the first four months of the year stands at 1,299, only two more units than for the same period a year ago.

New imports

There were 6,359 new passenger vehicles imported in April, which represented a 25.7 per cent decrease from the 8,555 units in the same month of last year. 

Last month’s figure was also down 17.4 per cent from March when 7,698 new cars crossed our borders.

Japan was the top source of new vehicles, accounting for 3,210 units, with South Korea second on 676. Belgium, Germany, the UK and Thailand were next on the list with 662, 456, 319 and 296 units, respectively.

The year-to-date figure of 26,954 is 20.2 per cent below the 33,761 recorded at the same stage of last year.

For new light commercials, there were 1,471 units imported last month, which was 982 units fewer or 40 per cent less than the 2,453 seen in April 2022. 

It was also 65.8 per cent below the 4,296 units brought into the country in March.

The sector’s year-to-date tally stood at 9,936 at the end of April, which was down 5.8 per cent from the 9,936 units imported during the same period of 2022.

Overall, 17,420 vehicles, including trucks and buses, crossed our border in April, which was down from 24,646 the previous month.