New truck and van imports almost doubled in October to 3208 units, up from 1658 in September, according to provisional New Zealand Customs figures.
The rise came from light commercials. New trucks and vans under 3500kg rose to 3045, the highest monthly total of the six months in the Customs report and up 43.8% on 2118 in October 2025.
Heavy imports went the other way. Customs recorded 163 new commercial vehicles over 3500kg, down from 216 in September and 316 a year earlier, and the lowest monthly figure of the period.
Thailand supplied 2234 of October’s new commercial vehicles, up from 969 in September. Japan supplied 502, China 140 and other countries 132. Spain supplied 72 and the US 44.
Used imports
Used truck and van imports fell to 251 from 364 in September, and from 332 in October 2025. That included 245 under 3500kg and six over 3500kg. Japan supplied 231.
Of the light used commercials, 137 were diesel and 108 petrol. Diesel utes and lorries made up the largest group with 98, followed by 76 petrol utes and lorries, 39 diesel vans and 32 petrol vans.
Arrivals and registrations
Light commercial arrivals were close to registrations in October. AutoTalk’s analysis of NZTA data shows 3285 new commercial vehicles registered during the month, against 3045 new trucks and vans under 3500kg cleared by Customs. Used commercial registrations totalled 441, compared with 245 used light commercial arrivals.
Heavy truck numbers are further apart. In September, the latest month for which TransportTalk has published heavy registrations, 681 new commercial vehicles over 3500kg GVM were registered, against 216 heavy arrivals recorded by Customs. The Customs report counts only vehicles imported fully built up, and registrations include vehicles that arrived in earlier months.
Year to date
Customs has recorded 26,485 new and used truck and van arrivals in 2026, of which 23,538 are new and 2947 used. New arrivals are down 4.6% on 24,673 in the same period of 2025, while used arrivals are up 26.1% on 2338.
Thailand has supplied 15,246 new commercial vehicles this year, followed by Japan with 4105.
Across all vehicle types, October imports totalled 19,487, up from 16,875 in September. New car imports rose to 10,083 and used car imports fell to 5762. Customs also recorded 183 buses and coaches, including 158 new.
Customs figures for the latest three months are provisional and are revised as entries are re-cleared.
