Used imports bounce back

There were 6,297 used passenger vehicles imported last month, a jump of 24.4 per cent from October when only 5,062 units crossed our borders.

However, November’s figure was down 34.7 per cent from 9,650 in the same month of 2021.

The year-to-date total for 2022 is now 82,022 – down from 119,430 and by 31.3 per cent compared with this time last year, according to the figures from Customs NZ. 

Last month, 5,975 units were imported from Japan for a 94.9 per cent share of the market. Australia placed second with 139 units, Singapore and the US were next on 57 each, and the UK followed with 41. 

As for used light commercials, 334 crossed the border in November to bring the year-to-date total to 3,517. That figure is down by 18.6 per cent from 4,319 by the same time last year.

Last month’s figure – the third highest tally in 2022 – was up 26.5 per cent from the 264 units in October this year but down 38.5 per cent from 543 in the same month of 2021.

Mixed fortunes for new vehicles

When it comes to new passenger vehicles, there were 11,493 brought into New Zealand last month. 

November’s tally means 106,159 vehicles have come in so far in 2022, which is a decrease of 1.4 per cent on the 107,675 units over the same period a year ago.

Last month’s figure was up 41.6 per cent from November 2021 when it only reached 8,119 new cars. However, it also represented a 6.3 per cent drop from October this year when there were 12,260 units.

Japan was the main country of export with 5,334 units followed by China with 1,636. Next up was Korea on 1,239, Thailand with 957, Spain with 650, Germany on 348 and Belgium with 245.

For new light commercials, there were 2,490 units imported in November, a drop of 2.1 per cent from 2,544 in the same month a year ago. The total was also down 46 per cent from the 4,610 units in October this year.

It took the year-to-date figure to 30,618 units, down 10.8 per cent from 34,316 after the first 11 months of last year.

Overall, 21,346 vehicles, including trucks and buses, crossed our border in November. This was down from 22,853 in the previous month.