This story first appeared in the May issue of DieselTalk – CLICK HERE to download the magazine FREE
Registrations of used imported trucks over 3500kg GVM declined year on year by 29% from 144 to 101 units overall. Year-to-date registrations have dropped from 506 in April 2015 to 486 last month.
Isuzu Trucks led the used truck market – as well as the new – with 32 units (36 in April 2015), followed by Toyota on 27 (44).
Then came Hino on 13 (unchanged), Mitsubishi Fuso on 8 (13), and Nissan on 5 (14).
Volvo Trucks, however, saw its year-on-year tally increase threefold from one to four used truck registrations.
Year-to-date, used heavy duty trucks (over 23,001kg GVM) have fallen to 34 units from 41 in the previous period. Used medium duty truck registrations (9001 to 23,000kg GVM) fell to 32 units from 40 and used light duty truck registrations (3500 to 9000kg GVM) have dropped to 420 from 425 units.
Year-on-year registrations saw heavy duty fall from 14 to 9 units, medium duty registrations remained static on 11, and light duty registrations fell from 119 to 81.
Used imported heavy duty bus registrations (over 3500kg GVM) year-to-date, and year-on-year have also seen a decline in registrations, no doubt due to the competitive new vehicle market and the lack of competitively priced stock in Japan and other markets.
Used light commercials decline
Used light commercials under 3500kg GVM saw a 32% decline in year on year registrations from 119 units in April 2015 to 81 units last month.
Year-to-date used light commercial registrations, however, remain relatively stable at 420 units, which is only five fewer than at the same time last year.
Isuzu lead the used light commercials with 28 registrations (33 in April 2015) followed by Toyota on 27 (44), Hino on 10 (unchanged), Mitsubishi on 5 (9), and Nissan on 5 (12).
Used tractors up, new tractors down.
Not surprisingly given the current volatility within the dairy sector which is the primary buyer of 50 horsepower tractors, registrations of new tractors fell 19% in April 2016 to 111 units from 137 in the previous corresponding period.
Year-to-date, new tractor registrations dropped from 494 to 440.
However, used tractor registrations for April 2016 rose 39% year-on-year from 67 units to 93, reflecting the market’s move away from buying new equipment.
Year-to-date used tractors have increased from 305 registrations to 351 units.
Last month UDC told DIESELtalk it has experienced a softening in lending to the Agri sector over the last quarter (Jan-March 2016) in comparison to the same period in 2015.
Dairy goes off
Based on dealer feedback, this shift is predominantly due to the downturn in the dairy sector.
UDC has noticed customers opting for used tractors and machinery – over new – and increasing their parts and service expenditure.
Many farmers are focused on cost cutting and managing cash flow – deferring capital expenditure is often a first up option.
Other areas of the Agri sector – such as pip fruit, viticulture, kiwifruit, sheep and beef and cropping – are buoyant. Dealers exposed to these areas are not seeing the impact to the same extent.
The most noticeable regions affected are the Waikato and lower South Island. Before this, lending has been very high with many dealers having record lending months.
