The imported car market in currently stable growing in the South Korean auto market. Especially the categories of mid-size sedan and compact SUV, that the Subaru’s product range fits well, rise in popularity.

Starting on April 2010, the company will introduce the Legacy, Outback and Forester models, targeting initial sales target of 600 units in the first year.

The 2009 figure accounted for roughly 70% of the largest sold volume of 5.86 million units recorded in 1997.

According to Japan Automobile Dealers Association, the 2009 total was made up of 1,619,370 midsize & large-size cars, down 6.3%, 1,855,071 small cars, off 4.6 %, 194,180 heavy- and medium-duty trucks, down 14.0%, 266,395 light trucks, down 4.4%, 15,293 buses, down 5.6%, 85,808 special purpose vehicles, down 9.3%, and 9,579 heavy-duty special purpose vehicles, up 2.6%.

Sales of over-1,000cc engine used vehicles in December 2009 declined 8.3% on the year to 318,332 units, marking 11th straight monthly drop. This also marked the lowest December figure since such statistics began to be released in 1978.

Sales of passenger cars showed the 15th straight monthly decline.

Global economic crisis and lifted import tariff of Russia caused the downturn in the uased car export business.

The range of year-on-year decline, however, is gradually narrowing since October 2009.

In December 2009, exports totaled 69,001 units, down 11% on the yera. It also marked the 14th straight month of decline.

Twenty of the top 25 countries showed year-on-year increases for December.

Reduced volume from the previous year totaled 19,094 vehicles for December, while vehicles bound for Russia dropped by 37,155 units year-on year. Exports to destinations other than Russia, thus, are on track for the recovery.

In December, New Zealand (up 269%) and Bangladesh (up 45%) showed significant ups.

United Arab Emirates retained the No. 1 position of the top 25 list with 8,638 units, up 23%. Chile, which has long been sluggish, became the second largest market with 6,402 units, up 7%. Third ranked South Africa (5,774) also marked an 80% increase.

Exports to Russia fell by 86% to 5,762 vehicles.

Remarkable increases were found in exports to Mauritius (up 483%), the Philippines (up 138%), Malaysia (up 128%), Afghanistan (up 187%), Georgia (up 104%), and UK (up168%).

In contrast, exports to Uganda (down 35%), Mozambique (off 20%), Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Singapore, and Kyrgyz were stagnant.

The avearge FOB price of used vehicles shipped in December was 428,752 yen. It climbed to over 1 million yen for vehicles shipped to Malaysia, Hong Kong and Thailand becaused they were mostly new cars equiped dealer options at Japan side.

Australia, Pakistan, Mauritius and Bangladesh also showed higher FOB prices.

According to the Japan Automobile Dealers Association, the November figures marked the 9th consecutive month of decrease year on year.

The November total was made up of 21,744 midsize & large-size cars, down 19.4%, 36,773 small cars, off 26.0%, 6,059 heavy-and medium-duty trucks, up 31.1%, 11,619 light trucks, off 1.8%, 940 buses, up 55.1%, and 2,123 special purpose and other vehicles, up 7.1%.

Toyota vehicles accounted for 53.7% (42,550 units) of total deregistrations for export in November, 0.8-point smaller than previous month.

According to Japan Automobile Dealers Association, the November total was made up of 118,571 midsize & large-size cars, down 4.4%, 135,343 small cars, up 2.9%, 13,963 heavy-and medium-duty trucks, down 10.2%, 19,734 light trucks, down 0.4%, 1,032 buses, up 9.9%, 6,106 special purpose vehicles, down 10.7%, and 1,114 heavy-duty special purpose vehicles, up 9.9%.

Sales of used vehicles in the January-November period of 2009 totaled 3,727,429 units, down 5.7% from a year earlier.

The 2009 sales will likely to reach around 4 million unit level.

According to an analysis of the International Auto Trade Association (iATA), increased volume to such destinations, including New Zealand partially offset the reduction of used cars destined to Russia and Chile year on year.

In January-November period of 2009, 606,857 used vehicles have been exported , 51% behind last year.

United Arab Emirates became the largest market for November with 9,016 units, up 18% year-on-year. Average FOB prices, however, down roughly 30,000 yen.

Exported used vehicles to New Zealand jumped to 8,511 units, marking the fourth on year. The average FOB prices also rose by roughly 60,000 yen.

South Africa came to third with 7,381 units, up 46%.

Exports to Russia scale backed from last year’s 40,766 units to 6,026 vehicles in November, down 85%. Used vehicles bound for Chile also fell by 31% to 5,131 units. The average Fob prices educed by roughly 40,000 yen.

In the top 25 destinations, 19 marked year on year increases, including Malaysia (up 178%), philippines (up 156%), Suriname (up 111%), Hong Kong (up 107%), Jamaica (up 216%), Guyana (up 163%), Georgia (up 115%), Afghanistan (up 195%), Malta (up 113%), and UK (up 284%).

In contrast, exports to Bangladesh largely declined by 56% to 1,868 units. Vehicles bound for Uganda also reduced by 47% to 1,161 units.

Compared with the previous month (Oct. 2009), the November exports to Bangladesh (from 3,782 to 1,868 units) and Suriname (from 470 to 2,168 units) showed large variations.

According to the Japan Automobile Dealers Association, the October figures marked the 9th consecutive month of decrease year on year.

The October total was made up of 15,466 midsize & large-size cars, down 66.9%, 26,560 small cars, off 67.7%, 4,462 haevy- and medium-duty trucks, down 39.2%, 9,272 light trucks, off 51.6%,594 buses, down 22.0%, and 1,674 special purpose and other vehicles, down 50.4%.

Toyota vehicles accounted for 54.5% (31,605 units) of total deregistrations for export in October, 3.2-point larger than previous month.

In the first 10 months of this year, deregistrered vehicles for export totaled 790,569 units, down 39.5%, or 516,158 units fewer than previous year.

According to Japan Automobile Dealers Association, the October total was made up of 133, 526 midsize & large-size cars, down 12.7%, 152,065 small cars, down 6.4%, 16,328 heavy-and medium-duty trucks, down 20.2%, 22,307 light trucks, down 11.0%, 1,306 buses, down 1.1% 7,272 special purpose vehicles, off 15.7%, and 833 heavy-duty special purpose vehicles, down 9.2%. Sales of used vehicles in the first ten month of this year totaled 3,431,564 units, down 6.0% from a year earlier.

According to an analysis of the International Auto Trade Association(iATA), increased volume to such contries as South Africa, United Arab Emirates and New Zealand partially offset the reduction of used cars destined to Russia and Chile year on year.

The October exports were the highest monthly volume of this year.

South Africa maintained the largest destination for used vehicles from Japan for third consecutive month. Exported volume to that nation totaled 8,011 units, up 44% year on year. But the average FOB price declined by roughly 90,000 yen from last year.

United Arab Emirates came to second position. Exported volume to that nation were 7,678 units, up 26%. Average FOB prices down roughly 60,000 yen.

Exported used vehicles to New Zealand jumped from last year’s 3,325 units to 7,537 units, marking the third units straight month of increase year on year.

Exports to Russia scale backed from last year’s 50,777 units to 6,303 vehicles in October, down 87%. Used vehicles bound for Chile also fell by 46% to 5,473 units.

In the top 25 destinations, 20 marked year on year increases, including Bangladesh (up 123%), Malaysia (up 103%), Georgia (up 177%), and Myanmar (up 303%).

Notably, exports to Bolivia of South America climbed from last year’s 46 units to 586 units. Exports to Australia, Pakistan, Indonesia and Malta also increased. In contrast, exported volume to Peru, Cyprus and Mongolia significantly reduced.

In January-October period this year 533,620 used vehicles have been exported, 54% behind last year.

According to Japan Automobile Dealers Association, the September total was made up of 119,685 midsize & large-size cars, down 12.9%, 135,300 small cars, down 8.8%, 14,298 heavy- and medium-duty trucks, down 42.4%, 20,078 light trucks, down 8.6%, 1,204 buses, down 4.4%, 6,306 special purpose vehicls, off 19.1%, and 907 heavy-duty special purpose vehicles, up 18.3%.

Sales of used vehicles in the first eight month of this year totaled 3,097,867 units, down 5.5% from a year earlier.