Used imports increase

Figures for used cars and light commercials climb in August from previous month but are down from a year ago.

Posted on 05 September, 2022

There were 8,611 used passenger vehicles imported last month, a rise of 32.4 per cent from 6,506 vehicles in July and the third highest tally of the year so far.

However, the monthly figure was 27.8 per cent lower than in August 2021 when 11,932 units crossed our borders.

The total for 2022 is now 65,631 – down from 91,945 and by 28.6 per cent compared with this time last year.

Last month, 8,295 units were imported from Japan for a 96.3 per cent share of the market and 186 came in from Australia.

Next up were the US on 44, the UK with 27 and Singapore on 24, according to the figures from Customs NZ.

As for used light commercials, 502 crossed the border in August to bring the year-to-date total to 2,724. That figure is down by 10.5 per cent from 3,045 by the same time last year.

Last month’s figure was 16.7 per cent lower than the 603 units in August 2021 but 75.5 per cent higher than the 286 light commercials brought in during July this year.

Year-to-date totals flagging

When it comes to new passenger vehicles, there were 9,981 brought into New Zealand last month. That means 71,082 have come in so far in 2022 for a decrease of 9.7 per cent on 78,745 over the same period a year ago.

August’s total was 8.6 per cent lower than in the same month of 2021 when 10,921 new cars crossed our borders. In contrast, it represented a 6.2 per cent increase from July this year when there were 9,397 units.

Japan was the main country of export with 5,041 units followed by Korea with 1,520. Next up was China on 792, Thailand with 744, Belgium with 604, the US on 294 and the UK with 211.

For new light commercials, there were 4,302 units imported in August, an increase of 73.2 per cent from 2,482 in the same month a year ago and 76.5 per cent higher than 2,438 units in July this year.

It took the year-to-date total to 20,433 units, down 21.6 per cent from 26,074 after the first eight months of last year.

Overall, 24,118 vehicles, including trucks and buses, crossed our border in August. This was up from 19,314 in the previous month and the highest monthly total of 2022 so far.