Mixed fortunes for imports

There were 7,218 used passenger vehicles imported last month, a drop of 9.7 per cent from June when 7,989 units crossed our borders.

July’s figure was also down by 34.4 per cent from 11,000 in the same month of 2023.

The year-to-date total for 2024 is now 58,796 – down 12.9 per cent compared with 67,518 at the same time last year, according to the figures from Customs NZ. 

Last month, 7,028 units were imported from Japan for a 97.4 per cent share of the market. Australia placed second with 110 units, followed by Singapore on 26, the US with 18 and the UK on 13. 

As for used light commercials, 248 crossed the border in July to bring the year-to-date total to 2,279. That figure is down by seven per cent from 2,450 by the same time last year.

Last month’s figure was also 13.3 per cent lower than the 286 units in June this year and down 29.3 per cent from 351 in the same month of 2023.

Surge for new vehicles

As for new passenger vehicles, there were 9,385 brought into New Zealand last month. 

July’s tally means 52,096 vehicles have come in so far in 2024, which is an increase of 16.7 per cent on the 44,637 units over the same period a year ago.

Last month’s figure was up 16.2 per cent from June when the monthly total was 8,079 new cars, and it was also 14.7 per cent higher than July 2023’s tally when there were 8.183 units.

Japan was the main country of export with 4,954 units followed by South Korea with 1,365. Next up was Thailand on 1,285, China with 802, the US on 363 and Belgium with 261.

For new light commercials, there were 2,433 units imported in July, an increase of 22.4 per cent from 1,987 in the same month a year ago.

The total was also up 47.9 per cent from the 1,645 units in June this year.

It took the year-to-date figure to 13,128 units, which is 14.5 per cent fewer than the 15,360 recorded over the same period of 2023.

Overall, 20,068 vehicles, including trucks and buses, crossed our border in July. This was up from 18,504 in the previous month.