Mixed fortunes at border

There were 7,825 used passenger vehicles imported last month as the number of units crossing our borders fell by 7.5 per cent from 8,457 units a year ago.

The latest tally was also down by 27.4 per cent from April this year when 10,784 units came into the country, according to figures from Customs NZ. 

The year-to-date total for 2026 is now 37,172 – up by 8.5 per cent compared with 34,258 at the same time last year.

Some 7,631 units were imported from Japan in May for a 97.5 per cent share of the market. Australia was next with 132 units, followed by Singapore on 29. 

As for used light commercials, 175 crossed the border last month. This was down 19 per cent from 216 units in the same month last year and a slump of 54.9 per cent when compared with April’s total of 388.

The year-to-date total for this sector now stands at 1,369 units.

New imports increase

As for new passenger vehicles, some 8,115 units were brought into New Zealand last month. 

This was a 42.2 per cent rise from 5,708 units in May last year and a 14.3 per cent increase from 7,101 in April this year.

May’s tally means 37,202 vehicles have crossed the border so far in 2026, which is up 21.9 per cent from 30,518 units for the same period a year ago.

Japan was the main country of export with 3,151 units, followed by China with 1,443, Thailand on 1,340, South Korea with 775 and Germany on 456.

For new light commercials, 1,894 units were imported in May for a jump of 28.3 per cent from the 1,476 recorded a year ago. 

The latest figure was flat when compared with 1,901 units in April and the year-to-date total is now 11,364.

Overall, 18,154 vehicles, including trucks and buses, entered the country in May. This was down from 20,268 in the previous month.