Used imports climb

There were 9,190 used passenger vehicles imported last month, up 30.9 per cent increase when compared to September 2020’s total of 8,358.

The monthly total was also an increase from the previous month when 11,942 units crossed our borders.

Japan remains the main supplier of used-car imports with 8,621 units coming in during September for a market share of 93.8 per cent, according to the figures from Customs NZ. 

This was an 11.7 per cent increase compared to 7,720 in the same month of last year.

In addition, 196 used cars were imported from Australia last month and 142 arrived from Singapore. The totals for the UK and the US were 98 and 87 respectively.

So far this year, 101,973 used cars have been imported – up 24,065 units, or 30.9 per cent, on 77,908 in the same period of 2020.

As for used light commercials, there were 377 imports in September – a 23.2 per cent increase from just 306 units a year ago. 

Last month’s figure was 38.2 per cent lower than the 610 seen in August 2021.

It took the year-to-date total to 3,460, which is 403 units, or 10.4 per cent, lower than at the same stage of 2020 when it stood at 3,863.

New imports slide

There were 8,912 new passenger vehicles imported in September, which represented an 18.9 per cent decrease from the previous month when there were 10,983.

The monthly tally was 7.2 per cent higher than September 2020 when 8,313 new cars crossed our borders.

Japan was the main country of export with 4,108 units followed by Thailand with 1,237. Next up was Korea on 928, Belgium with 499, China on 433, the US with 352 and the Czech Republic on 351.

Year to date, the total now stands at 87,748 and is 35,780 units, or 68.9 per cent, more than at the same stage of 2020.

For new light commercials, there were 2,744 units imported in September, a decrease of 10.5 per cent from August’s 2,484. The figure was only up 32 units from 2,712 units in September 2020.

In the first nine months of the year there have been 28,828 units come into the country, 12,868 more than at the same stage a year ago.

Overall, 22,180 vehicles, including trucks and buses, crossed our border in September, which was down from 26,702 the previous month.