Japan’s Used Vehicle Export Market in February 2026
- Jun 22
- 11 min read
Tanzania and Ireland Surge, While Malaysia and Bangladesh Pull Back
Data analysis: Monthly calculations, rate-of-change rankings, and year-on-year comparisonsUsed vehicle export consultant: Import regulations, payment risk, logistics, and vehicle selectionEditorial and market analysis: Political, economic, and local-market interpretation
Policy and regulatory information reviewed as of June 22, 2026
Important Note on the Data
The first numeric column in the supplied dataset appears to represent the January–February cumulative total, rather than January-only exports.
For this analysis, January exports were therefore calculated as follows:
January volume = January–February cumulative volume − February volume
Subsequent trade-statistics revisions may produce small differences from the figures used here. This article applies the supplied dataset consistently so that all month-on-month comparisons remain comparable. Current e-Stat-based tables also show that historical monthly figures may be revised after initial publication.
Top Two Gainers and Bottom Two Decliners
The rankings below are based on the percentage change from January to February.
Ranking | Market | January | February | Change in Units | Month-on-Month |
No. 1 gainer | Tanzania | 8,542 | 18,711 | +10,169 | +119.0% |
No. 2 gainer | Ireland | 1,167 | 2,174 | +1,007 | +86.3% |
No. 1 decliner | Malaysia | 8,105 | 3,220 | −4,885 | −60.3% |
No. 2 decliner | Bangladesh | 2,147 | 1,504 | −643 | −29.9% |
Across the 30 destinations in the dataset, total exports increased from 107,704 units in January to 132,528 units in February.
That represents an increase of:
24,824 units
23.0% month on month
Growth in 25 of the 30 markets
February was therefore not a month of broad weakness in Japan’s used vehicle export sector. The declines in Malaysia and Bangladesh should be understood primarily through country-specific factors—including import permits, financing conditions, political timing, inventory adjustments, and local regulation.
The ranking also changes when measured by absolute unit growth rather than percentage growth. By volume, the two largest increases were Tanzania, at 10,169 units, and Russia, at 4,293 units. The largest absolute declines were Malaysia, at 4,885 units, and Cyprus, at 828 units.
Ireland’s second-place ranking by growth rate partly reflects its relatively small January base. Professional market analysis should therefore examine both percentage change and absolute unit change.
No. 1 Gainer: Tanzania
A Regional Logistics Market That Extends Beyond Domestic Demand
Tanzania’s exports increased from 8,542 units in January to 18,711 units in February.
This represents:
An increase of 10,169 units
Month-on-month growth of 119.0%
The largest increase in both percentage and absolute terms among the four markets analyzed
Tanzania’s Growth Cannot Be Explained by Domestic Demand Alone
Tanzania’s economic fundamentals have remained relatively supportive. The World Bank reported that the country’s GDP expanded by approximately 5.8% in the first half of 2025, supported by mining, construction, financial services, and export activity. Low inflation and improved foreign-exchange conditions also helped maintain macroeconomic stability.
However, Japanese exporters should not assume that all vehicles shipped to Tanzania are ultimately sold to Tanzanian consumers.
The Port of Dar es Salaam handles approximately 95% of Tanzania’s international trade and also serves several landlocked markets, including Zambia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, Rwanda, Malawi, Uganda, and Zimbabwe.
Tanzania should therefore be viewed as both:
A domestic used vehicle market
A logistics gateway to East and Central Africa
Part of the February increase may represent transit demand, regional redistribution, or shipment consolidation for inland destinations.
Political and Logistics Factors
Tanzania experienced serious political unrest surrounding the October 29, 2025 general election. African Union observers said the election did not comply with democratic principles and international standards, while protests and security restrictions disrupted normal activity in Dar es Salaam.
It is therefore possible that February’s sharp increase partly reflected:
The normalization of port and transport operations
Shipments delayed by previous disruption
Concentration of cargo into particular sailing schedules
Restocking by regional distributors
This is a commercial inference rather than a confirmed direct causal relationship. Monthly port and vessel-level data would be required to isolate the effect.
Regulatory Considerations for Tanzania
Used vehicles exported from Japan to Tanzania must be inspected and issued with a Certificate of Roadworthiness before export. The Tanzania Bureau of Standards specifically reminds importers that vehicles from Japan must complete this process before shipment.
This makes pre-purchase vehicle assessment critical. Inspection failure after a vehicle has already been acquired can result in:
Delayed shipment
Additional storage costs
Repair expenses
Missed vessel bookings
Reduced gross margin
Consultant’s Recommendation: Expand, but Control Inspection and Logistics Risk
Tanzania remains an attractive growth market, but exporters should separate customers into two commercial categories:
Vehicles intended for domestic Tanzanian sale
Vehicles moving through Tanzania to inland African markets
For transit business, quotations should include the full cost from the Japanese port to the final inland destination—not simply the cost to Dar es Salaam.
Exporters should also confirm:
Final destination
Border-clearance requirements
Inland transport cost
Roadworthiness inspection status
Payment and collection period
Responsibility for port storage and demurrage
Recommended market stance: Active expansion with strict pre-shipment and logistics controls.
No. 2 Gainer: Ireland
Japan Is Becoming a Strategic Right-Hand-Drive Supply Market
Exports to Ireland increased from 1,167 units in January to 2,174 units in February.
This represents:
An increase of 1,007 units
Month-on-month growth of 86.3%
Significant growth beyond a simple low-base effect
Ireland’s imported used car market also expanded more broadly. The Society of the Irish Motor Industry reported that 7,639 imported used cars were registered in February 2026, an increase of 36.5% from February 2025. January–February registrations were 40% higher year on year.
A Structural Shift from the United Kingdom to Japan
Japan and Ireland are both predominantly right-hand-drive markets. This makes Japanese vehicles commercially compatible with Irish road use.
Japan has also become increasingly important as an alternative to the United Kingdom. According to an analysis of Irish registration data, 26,942 Japan-sourced used vehicles were registered between January and September 2025, up 19.84% year on year. That compared with 9,790 vehicles sourced from the United Kingdom.
Japan therefore supplied approximately 2.75 times as many imported used vehicles as the United Kingdom during that period.
The change reflects more than temporary price differences. It indicates a structural shift in sourcing strategy driven by:
Right-hand-drive compatibility
Availability of well-maintained Japanese vehicles
Strong Japanese hybrid supply
Greater administrative and cost burdens associated with UK sourcing following Brexit
Demand for lower-emission vehicles
Taxation and Emissions Documentation Determine Profitability
Ireland is not a low-complexity export destination.
Vehicle Registration Tax, or VRT, is calculated using the vehicle’s Irish Open Market Selling Price and its CO₂ emissions. A separate nitrogen oxide levy is then added to determine the final VRT amount.
Evidence of NOx emissions must also be provided to complete registration. Failure to provide the required figure can lead to delays or a flat charge. Irish Revenue states that an official NOx figure for a Japanese import may be obtained from Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.
This means vehicle profitability depends not only on the Japanese purchase price but also on whether the exporter or importer can obtain reliable documentation for:
CO₂ emissions
NOx emissions
Chassis number
Production year
Model designation
Registration history
Technical specification
A vehicle bought cheaply in Japan may become uncompetitive in Ireland if emissions documentation is missing or its VRT burden is high.
Ireland’s Long-Term Electrification Policy
Ireland has set a policy objective of shifting approximately 30% of its private vehicle fleet to electric vehicles by 2030. Government incentives and tax measures are intended to support that transition.
The medium-term opportunity is therefore strongest in:
Low-CO₂ gasoline vehicles
Reliable Japanese hybrids
Plug-in hybrids with clear battery and emissions records
Electric vehicles with verifiable battery condition
Models with established parts and service support in Ireland
Consultant’s Recommendation: Expand Selectively
Ireland is a promising market, but the correct strategy is not to maximize volume indiscriminately.
Exporters should prioritize vehicles for which they can provide a complete technical-document package. Customer quotations should be based on estimated landed and registered cost, including:
FOB price
Ocean freight
Customs duty
VAT
VRT
NOx levy
Registration and inspection costs
Recommended market stance: Selective expansion focused on low-emission vehicles and documentation quality.
No. 1 Decliner: Malaysia
A Sharp Monthly Drop Does Not Necessarily Mean Market Collapse
Exports to Malaysia fell from 8,105 units in January to 3,220 units in February.
This represents:
A decline of 4,885 units
A month-on-month decrease of 60.3%
The largest decline in both percentage and absolute terms among the four markets
However, the monthly figure should not be interpreted in isolation.
January and February 2026 exports totaled 11,325 units, compared with 11,110 units during the same two months of 2025. The two-month total was therefore still approximately 1.9% higher year on year.
The February decline may consequently reflect:
An unusually strong January
Shipment timing
Inventory adjustment
Permit allocation
Concentration of purchases into higher-value vehicles
Changes in individual importer purchasing schedules
Higher FOB Prices Suggest More Selective Purchasing
Average FOB value increased from approximately JPY 4.597 million in January to JPY 4.969 million in February—an increase of about 8.1%.
Falling volume combined with a higher average FOB price suggests that importers may have shifted toward:
Higher-specification vehicles
Premium models
Vehicles with stronger resale value
Newer vehicles
Units capable of absorbing permit and tax costs
This pattern does not resemble a complete collapse in demand. It is more consistent with selective purchasing and inventory control.
Malaysia’s Approved Permit System
Malaysia’s used and reconditioned vehicle market is heavily influenced by the Approved Permit system.
The Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry defines an Approved Permit as an import or export license intended to support orderly industrial development, safety, standards, environmental requirements, and policy monitoring.
Open APs cover used or reconditioned completely built-up vehicles between one and five years old. Open AP applications are also subject to pre-approval.
The market is therefore shaped not only by end-user demand but also by:
Permit availability
AP-holder inventory
Vehicle age
Importer allocation
Tax burden
Policy administration
Consultant’s Recommendation: Do Not Exit—Adjust Inventory and Product Mix
A single weak month is not sufficient evidence to withdraw from Malaysia.
Exporters should monitor:
AP availability by importer
Existing local inventory
Monthly retail turnover
Vehicle age at expected arrival
Average FOB value
Three-month moving averages
Payment performance by dealer
Vehicles approaching the upper age limit create additional risk. A delay in auction purchase, document preparation, vessel booking, or customs processing may reduce the remaining eligibility window.
Recommended market stance: Maintain the market while shifting toward higher-value, faster-turning vehicles.
No. 2 Decliner: Bangladesh
Political Transition and Banking-Sector Stress Are Restricting Demand
Exports to Bangladesh fell from 2,147 units in January to 1,504 units in February.
This represents:
A decline of 643 units
A month-on-month decrease of 29.9%
A more substantive weakness than Malaysia when viewed alongside financial conditions
Political Timing May Have Delayed Purchasing Decisions
Bangladesh held a general election on February 12, 2026, its first national vote following the political upheaval of 2024. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party won a landslide victory.
The direct effect of the election on used vehicle imports cannot be proven from monthly export data alone. However, election-related uncertainty may have encouraged importers to postpone:
Letter-of-credit applications
Foreign-currency commitments
New inventory purchases
Long-term dealer financing
High-value consumer transactions
Banking Conditions Are a More Serious Structural Constraint
The IMF reported that Bangladesh’s systemwide non-performing loan ratio had risen to 34% by the end of June 2025.
Private-sector credit growth was only 7.6% year on year and was negative in real terms. The IMF also identified banking-sector stress and election-related uncertainty as constraints on economic growth.
For the used vehicle industry, weak banking conditions can affect both sides of the transaction:
Importers may struggle to open or confirm letters of credit
Dealers may have less access to working capital
Consumers may find vehicle financing more difficult
Foreign-exchange approval may take longer
Payment risk may increase
In Bangladesh, demand should therefore be measured not only by customer inquiries or purchase intentions, but by the buyer’s ability to secure a bank-supported payment instrument.
Import Regulations for Bangladesh
According to JETRO, imported used vehicles must generally:
Be no more than five years old at the time of shipment
Be right-hand drive
Be imported directly from the country of origin
Meet applicable emissions and safety requirements
Obtain a pre-export inspection certificate from the Japan Auto Appraisal Institute
Have the required vehicle-age, model, and chassis information documented
Vehicles close to the five-year limit carry substantial operational risk. A vessel delay or document problem could affect eligibility.
Consultant’s Recommendation: Prioritize Credit Control Over Volume
Exporters should not purchase vehicles speculatively and then wait for the buyer to arrange financing.
The safer sequence is:
Confirm the importer’s registration and eligibility
Verify the bank and letter-of-credit conditions
Confirm the vehicle’s age margin
Acquire the vehicle
Complete inspection and documentation
Book shipment
Pricing should also account for:
Foreign-exchange volatility
Port storage
Documentation delays
Inspection costs
Amendment fees
The possibility of delayed L/C issuance
Recommended market stance: Cautious participation with bank and credit approval completed before inventory commitment.
Strategic Assessment of the Four Markets
Market | Recommended Position | Main Commercial Issue |
Tanzania | Expand with controls | Domestic and regional transit demand; inspection, political, port, and inland-logistics risk |
Ireland | Expand selectively | Structural sourcing shift toward Japan; emissions documentation and total registered cost |
Malaysia | Maintain and premiumize | AP availability, shipment timing, inventory adjustment, and vehicle age |
Bangladesh | Proceed cautiously | Banking-sector weakness, L/C availability, foreign exchange, and age eligibility |
Conclusion
Data Analyst’s Conclusion
February was a strong month for the 30 markets in the dataset. Total export volume increased by 23.0%, and 25 markets recorded month-on-month growth.
The declines in Malaysia and Bangladesh should not be interpreted as evidence of a universal contraction in global used vehicle demand.
Used Vehicle Export Consultant’s Conclusion
Future profitability will increasingly depend on pre-export compliance and transaction structure.
The key requirements differ by market:
Tanzania: pre-shipment inspection and regional logistics
Ireland: CO₂ and NOx documentation
Malaysia: Approved Permits and vehicle-age control
Bangladesh: letters of credit, bank risk, and age eligibility
The exporter that manages these conditions before purchasing inventory will have a significant advantage over one that competes solely on FOB price.
Editorial Conclusion
February 2026 was not simply a month in which some countries bought more Japanese used vehicles and others bought fewer.
Tanzania and Ireland reflected two different forms of structural growth:
Expansion of a regional African logistics corridor
A shift in European right-hand-drive sourcing toward Japan
Malaysia and Bangladesh, meanwhile, demonstrated how permit administration, inventory timing, political events, banking conditions, and foreign-exchange access can override apparent consumer demand.
The next growth market in Japan’s used vehicle export industry will not be identified through shipment rankings alone. Exporters must analyze ports, payment systems, taxes, vehicle-age rules, emissions documentation, political schedules, and local inventory as parts of a single profitability model.
Region | 国名 | Country name | １月 | ２月 |
Asia | アラブ首長国連邦 | UAE | 35,778 | 18,023 |
Africa | タンザニア | Tanzania | 27,253 | 18,711 |
Europe | ロシア | RUSSIA | 26,681 | 15,487 |
South America | チリ | CHILE | 14,425 | 7,256 |
Oceania | ニュージーランド | NEW ZEALAND | 12,666 | 7,039 |
Africa | ケニア | KENYA | 9,998 | 6,182 |
Africa | 南アフリカ共和国 | SOUTH AFRICA | 10,249 | 5,749 |
Asia | スリランカ | SLILANKA | 10,518 | 5,382 |
Asia | モンゴル | Mongolia | 9,698 | 4,991 |
Asia | マレーシア | MALYSIA | 11,325 | 3,220 |
Asia | タイ | Thailand | 6,682 | 3,910 |
Europe | キプロス | CYPLUS | 6,296 | 2,734 |
Asia | フィリピン | PHILIPPINE | 5,627 | 2,947 |
Europe | 英国 | United Kingdom | 4,838 | 3,076 |
Africa | ウガンダ | Uganda | 4,190 | 2,723 |
South America | ガイアナ | Guyana | 4,215 | 2,306 |
Africa | ガーナ | Ghana | 3,993 | 2,337 |
Africa | ザンビア | Zambia | 3,598 | 2,220 |
North America | ジャマイカ | JAMAICA | 3,506 | 2,255 |
Europe | アイルランド | Ireland | 3,341 | 2,174 |
Asia | バングラデシュ | BANGLADESH | 3,651 | 1,504 |
Africa | コンゴ民主共和国 | Democratic Republic of the Congo | 2,900 | 1,798 |
Oceania | オーストラリア | AUSTRALIA | 3,133 | 1,533 |
Africa | ナイジェリア | Nigeria | 2,803 | 1,604 |
Africa | ジンバブエ | Zimbabwe | 2,481 | 1,567 |
Asia | ジョージア | Georgia | 2,773 | 1,355 |
North America | アメリカ合衆国 | United states of america | 2,167 | 1,271 |
Africa | モザンビーク | Mozambique | 2,200 | 1,238 |
South America | スリナム | SRINUM | 1,746 | 1,018 |
Asia | ミャンマー | Myanmar | 1,501 | 918 |
👉 Past Export Reports：
📚 過去の統計記事 / Past Monthly Reports:
2024年8月の統計記事 / August 2024 Report
2024年9月の統計記事 / September 2024 Report
2024年10月の統計記事 / October 2024 Report
2024年11月の統計記事 / November 2024 Report
2024年12月の統計記事 / December 2024 Report
2025年1月の統計記事 / January 2025 Report
2025年2月の統計記事 / February 2025 Report
2025年3月の統計記事 / March 2025 Report
2025年4月の統計記事 / April 2025 Report
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2025年7月の統計記事 / July 2025 Report
2025年8月の統計記事 / Augast 2025 Report
2025年9月の統計記事 / September 2025 Report
2025年10月の統計記事/October 2025 Report
2025年11月の統計記事/November 2025 Report
2025年12月の統計記事/December 2025 Report
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