Used vehicle exports from Japan are still shrinking.
Exported used vehicles in February 2009 dropped 66.8%, the largest ever deline, compared with the year-ago result to 37,758 units, according to the Ministry of Finance Customhouse statistics. This is the fifth consecutive month of year-on-year decrease. The February volume was the fourth-lowest monthly figure since the authority began to compile such export figures in 2001.
The February 2009 shipments bound for Russia, last year’s biggest market, fell by 94.8% from previous year’s 44,070 to 2,290 vehicles. Market share of Russia shrank to 6.1%, placing that country 5th position in the export volume ranking list.
Exports to Chile also dropped 95.1% from the previous year’s 12,675 units to 615. Tightened import rules in Bolivia, the largest destination for Japanese used vehicles stored in Chile’s free zone, contributed to the large decline. Chile’s position fell to 15th slot for the month.
U.A.E. maintained the market leader for second consecutive months. But used vehicles bound for the country declined 29.1% to 7,543 units year-on-year. The average FOB price also declined by roughly 70,000 yen on the year.
Exports to New Zealand also declined 66.9% to 2,613 units. The average FOB price significantly declined form the previous year’s 570,000 yen to some 280,000 yen.
Incontrast, exports to Bangladesh (up 140.6%) and the Philippines (up 24.4%) were brisk. Bangladesh became the second-largest market in the world due to softened import rules taken by that country.
Exports to Kenya rose 42.1% to 2,606 units, making that country 4th largest market in the world. Kenya also became the largest destination in Africa, while the previous leader South Africa fading. Used vehicles bound for South Africa declined 34.0% to 2,100 units.
Exports to Guyana, Pakistan, Myanmar and Afghanistan were on the rise year-on-year.
In the first two months of this year, exported used vehicles totaled 64,509 units, down 66.2% from last year.
