Vehicle imports jump

There were 11,445 used passenger vehicles imported into New Zealand during March, which was 45.1 per cent more than in the same month a year ago.

Last month’s total included 11,225 cars coming in from Japan, which claimed a market share of 98.1 per cent, according to the figures from Customs NZ.

Next up in March was Australia with 137 units and 1.2 per cent of the monthly total. The UK claimed third place with 25 and was followed by Singapore on 24 and the US with 22.

The overall total meant 3,555 more units crossed our borders than the 7,890 recorded in March 2022. 

The latest monthly figure was also up 51.8 per cent from the 7,538 used cars imported in February this year.

The year-to-date tally stands at 24,194 vehicles, which is up 10.1 per cent from 21,972 at the same stage of 2022.

As for used light commercials, there were 479 imports in March – an increase of 56 per cent from 307 units a year ago. 

Last month’s figure was also up 68.7 cent from the 284 units imported in February 2023.

The total for the first three months of the year stands at 935, only 5.7 per cent below the 992 units during the same period of last year.

New imports

There were 7,698 new passenger vehicles imported in March, which represented a 25.4 per cent decrease from the 10,322 units in the same month of last year. 

However, last month’s figure was up 11.4 per cent from February when 6,912 new cars crossed our borders.

Japan was the top source of new vehicles, accounting for 3,601 units, with China second on 879. Thailand, the US, South Korea and Belgium were next on the list with 746, 473, 453 and 330 units, respectively.

The year-to-date figures of 20,869 are 17.2 per cent below the 25,206 recorded at the same stage a year ago.

For new light commercials, there were 4,296 units imported last month, which was 1,521 units or 54.8 per cent more than the 2,775 seen in March 2022. 

It was also 77.8 per cent higher than the 2,416 units brought into the country during February.

The year-to-date tally stood at 8,598 at the end of March, which was up 6.2 per cent from the 8,095 units imported during the same period of 2022.

Overall, 24,646 vehicles, including trucks and buses, crossed our border in March, which was up from 17,596 the previous month.