Used imports up year-to-date

There were 11,035 used passenger vehicles imported into New Zealand during May, which was 6.7 per cent lower than the 11,833 units recorded in the same month a year ago.

It took the year-to-date tally to 43,709 vehicles, which was up by 4.6 per cent from 41,804 at the same stage of 2022.

Last month’s total included 10,817 cars arriving from Japan, which claimed a market share of 98 per cent, according to the figures from Customs NZ.

Australia was the source of 127 units and had 1.2 per cent of the monthly total. Singapore claimed third place with 30, with the US and the UK next on 21 and 20 units respectively.

The latest monthly figure was also up 25.8 per cent from the 8,775 used cars imported in April this year.

As for used light commercials, there were 310 imports in May. This was only two units fewer than in the same month a year ago, but down 17.1 per cent from the 374 units imported in April.

The year-to-date total stands at 1,590, which is 1.2 per cent less than the 1,609 units after the first five months of 2023.

New imports

There were 8,018 new passenger vehicles imported in May, which represented a 5.5 per cent decrease from the 8,488 units in the same month of last year. 

In contrast, last month’s figure represented a 26.1 per cent climb from April when 6,359 new cars crossed our borders.

Japan was the top source of new vehicles, accounting for 4,797 units, with South Korea second on 958. Thailand, China and Spain completed the top five countries of export with 472, 459 and 313 units, respectively.

The year-to-date figure of 34,441 is 18.5 per cent below the 42,249 recorded at the same stage of last year.

For new light commercials, there were 1,456 units imported last month, which was 338 units or 30.2 per cent more than the 1,118 seen in May 2022. 

Month-on-month, the number was just one per cent below the 1,471 units brought into the country in April.

The sector’s year-to-date tally stood at 10,987 at the end of May, which was down 5.8 per cent from the 11,666 units imported during the same period of 2022.

Overall, 21,552 vehicles, including trucks and buses, crossed our border in May, which was up from 17,420 the previous month.