Used-car imports hit low
There were 6,506 used passenger vehicles imported last month, which was 52.6 per cent lower than in July 2021 when 13,728 units crossed our borders
The July total – the lowest monthly figure of 2022 – was also down 25.3 per cent from the 8,720 units imported in June this year.
Japan remains the main supplier of used-car imports with 6,206 units coming in during July for a market share of 95.4 per cent, according to the figures from Customs NZ.
In addition, 192 used cars were imported from Australia last month and next up were the US with 42, Singapore on 24 and the UK with 23.
The year-to-date total is now 57,234 – down from 80,013 and by 28.5 per compared to this time in 2021.
As for used light commercials, there were 286 imports in July – a 50.9 per cent drop from 582 units a year ago.
Last month’s figure was also 12.5 lower than the 327 seen in June 2022.
It took the year-to-date total to 2,225, which is 217 units, or 8.9 per cent, lower than at the same stage of 2021 when it stood at 2,442.
New imports flat
There were 9,397 new passenger vehicles imported last month, which was 1.4 per cent more than in July 2021 when 9,264 new cars crossed our borders.
It was also only 0.6 per cent down from the total in June this year when it reached 9,455 units.
Japan was the main country of export with 3,495 units followed by Thailand with 1,689. Next up was China on 1,134, Korea with 1,105, the US with 638, Germany on 408 and Belgium with 282.
The year-to-date total stands at 67,824 and is 6,321 units, or 9.3 per cent, lower than at the same stage of 2021.
For new light commercials, there were 2,438 units imported in July, a decrease of 41.2 per cent from 4,145 in the same month a year ago. However, the figure was up 20.3 per cent from 2,027 units in June this year.
So far this year there have been 16,149 such units imported into New Zealand, down 31.5 per cent from 23,592 after the first seven months of last year.
Overall, 19,314 vehicles, including trucks and buses, crossed our border in July. This was down from 21,197 in the previous month and the lowest monthly total since February this year.
