Market continues to trend between 2018 and 2017 levels but individual sectors tell tale
Australian truck sales have endured a seasonal dip to start the new financial year, and while overall figures are fairly middling across the board, certain narratives are unfolding in the different sectors.
The final Truck Industry Council (TIC) tally of 3,194 falls below last month’s peak of 4,072, but at least remains above the 3,000 mark – which has been the general trend from March onwards.
By comparison, it’s a respectable medium between July 2018’s benchmark of 3,344 and 2017’s 2,951.
The year-to-date number of 22,083 is certainly no disgrace either, sitting closer to last year’s 23,314 than 2017’s 19,742.
There were some notable wins in the year-on-year stakes at least, with Volvo, Scania, Mercedes-Benz and MAN showing improvements in various sectors.
In YTD terms, Hino (3,155 vs. 3,125) Volvo (1,294 vs. 1,210) and Scania (655 vs. 519) are the notable winners, while Isuzu (5,122 vs. 5,557), Fuso (2,029 vs. 2,449) and Kenworth (1,341 vs. 1,551) have experienced dips – without shifting overall market leadership.
HEAVY-DUTY
For the heavy-duty sector, July sales reached four figures (1,035), following a consistent line in 2019 but, encouragingly, only 53 away from July 2018’s 1,088, which is well ahead of 909 in 2017.
The keenly watched battle at the top of the pile delivered wins of sorts for both contenders.
Kenworth regained top spot after two consecutive months of playing second fiddle to Volvo, pipping the latter by 13 (187 to 174) and increasing its YTD lead (1,341 to 1,278).
However, Volvo can point to a YOY improvement, with 1,278 well above 1,181 by the end of July 2018, whereas Kenworth is down from a bumper figure of 1,551.
Look back on last month’s truck sales results, here
Across the board, the makers who hit triple figures in June – Isuzu, Mercedes-Benz and Mack – regressed to double figures, with only Mack marking a YOY rise (86 to 67).
Scania’s 95 is also a significant improvement on 63 this time last year, emphasising its YTD improvement (518 to 653).
MEDIUM-DUTY
The medium-duty sector showed some life in July, as, while a figure of 632 was down on June’s 796, it marks a rare increase on 2018 levels (626) and takes the YTD in 2019 to 4,407 – short of 4,710 last year but well above 3,874 in 2017.
While most makers dipped month-on-month – MAN the only significant exception, from 50 to 77 – Isuzu recorded a record July figure of 263, which is better than July 2018 and 2017 levels (both in the 240s).
Hino’s strong overall showing is also underlined in this sector, with a better July 2019 than the previous two years, but its YTD number of 1,352 is also well above 2018’s 1,274.
Fuso remains in third spot overall but recorded a dip in MOM – to the point of falling behind MAN for the month – and YOY numbers.
LIGHT-DUTY
The light-duty sector was, relatively, the most sluggish, with MOM drops felt by all the big makers.
In fact, the tally of 1,034 for the month takes it to 6,552 for the year, which, of the three sectors, is the one that strays closer to 2017 levels (6,390) than 2018 (7,216).
All three market leaders – Isuzu, Hino and Fuso – also noted YOY and YTD drops.
The significant winner here was Mercedes-Benz, which had a massive YOY rise from 27 to 86, taking its YTD tally to 357 – 40 more than this time last year.