May 2025 Used-Car Export TrendsIn-Depth Analysis of This Month’s “Big Movers”
- fukada93
- Aug 1
- 4 min read
🌟 Statistical analysis of used vehicle export trends for May 2025
Total used car exports (top-30 markets): 120,257 units (-6.5 % vs. April).Policy tailwinds drove steep gains for some countries, while regulatory and logistics costs caused sharp declines for others. Below we break down the top two gainers and the top two decliners using reliable local sources.
📊 Used-Car Export Volume Chart
(April → May comparison image here)
🎯 Top Two Surges & Slumps
🏆 Biggest gains
Bahamas +75.5 %
Jamaica +72.5 %
✖ Biggest drops
Singapore -61.4 %
Mongolia -36.7 %
🔍 Why Bahamas Imports Soared
🏆 No. 1: Bahamas (+75.5 %)
1️⃣ Duty-free stimulus– Budget (28 May 2025) abolishes import duty on >20-ton commercial vehicles.– Simple clearance certificate = unlimited tax-free entries → rental & logistics fleets rushed to buy.
2️⃣ Stable currency + weak yen– BSD has been 1:1 to USD since 1966. With JPY ≈153/USD in May, landed costs fell sharply.
3️⃣ Tourism boom– 2024 arrivals hit a record 11.22 million. SUVs/vans in high demand before the summer peak.
4️⃣ Faster customs– 2025 tariff bill allows instant duty-free clearance for commercial imports, cutting yard time.
5️⃣ Aggressive dealer financing– Bank of the Bahamas now offers up to 100 % loans, 8-year terms; dealerships added 0 %-down promos.
Reliable sources: Office of the Prime Minister, Bahamas Customs, Central Bank of the Bahamas, TravelPulse, Bank of the Bahamas
Outlook: Rotate stock in ≤30 days to avoid post-July pull-back; secure vessel/box space through summer; broaden EV/hybrid lineup.
🔍 Why Jamaica Imports Jumped
🏆 No. 2: Jamaica (+72.5 %)
1️⃣ Import-bond slash (−80 %)– 2025/26 budget cut bond from 100 % to 20 %, freeing dealer cash for larger orders.
2️⃣ FX stability & rate cut– JMD moved within ±2 % YTD; BOJ lowered policy rate to 5.75 % on 20 May, trimming auto-loan costs.
3️⃣ Port relief– Kingston congestion eased after new yard space and tighter inventory tracking by PAJ.
4️⃣ Hybrid/EV incentives– Fuel prices remain high; duty breaks on eco-cars accelerated sales of Aqua, Fit, hybrid vans.
5️⃣ Dealer promotions– “Spring Mega-Sale”: 0 % down, ~5 % APR loans; banking sector competition boosted uptake.
Sources: Jamaica Observer, CNW Network, JIS, Bank of Jamaica, Automotive Industry Jamaica
Outlook: Bond relief is permanent, supporting sustained demand. If hybrid/EV tax breaks become law, green imports will expand through 2026. Watch port-capacity projects and potential spill-over demand from Singapore.
🔍 Why Singapore Imports Plunged
❌ Worst: Singapore (-61.4 %)
1️⃣ Record-high COE– 2nd May tender: Cat A S$102,501, Cat B S$116,988 → registration cost ≈1.8× FOB.
2️⃣ Tight quota persists– May–Jul quota up slightly (18,232) but Cat A average 1,267/month still far below demand.
3️⃣ Costly credit– Auto-loan nominal ~2.8 % (effective ~5 %); MAS policy holds S$NEER on a firm path.
4️⃣ Household caution– Core inflation 0.6 %; GDP outlook 0–2 %. Buyers delay large purchases; dealers cut stock.
5️⃣ EV/hybrid mismatch– Same COE for all drivetrains; battery cost + COE erodes eco-incentives.
Sources: LTA, Motorist.sg, AsiaOne, MAS, Reuters, OCBC/DBS/UOB
Outlook: COE ≤ 97k S$ is the recovery trigger; monitor tenders bi-weekly and prep spot shipments.
🔍 Why Mongolia Imports Fell
❌ 2nd-worst: Mongolia (-36.7 %)
1️⃣ 10-year age ban– From 1 Jun 2025, Ulaanbaatar issues no new plates for cars >10 yrs old → dealers slash orders.
2️⃣ RZD freight hike– Siberian rail costs +17–22 % YoY; shipping share of total landed cost jumped sharply.
3️⃣ Tugrik weakness– MNT slipped 4–5 % YTD vs USD, shrinking importers’ credit headroom.
4️⃣ Border bottlenecks– Rail delays and long queues at Erenhot–Zamiin-Uud add 10–14 days to lead times.
5️⃣ Demand pivot– Consumers now seek <10-yr, cold-climate, LHD vehicles; older models pushed to rural resale.
Sources: Asia News Network, CoalHub, Interfax, Trading Economics, News.MN
Outlook: Focus on <10-yr SUVs/4WDs; diversify via Tianjin multimodal routes; hedge further MNT slide.
🔑 Strategic Takeaway
Policy tailwinds create brief “bonus windows”; regulatory and logistics headwinds demand liquidity and rapid redeployment. Success hinges on real-time policy/FX data feeds and agile vessel, inventory, and cash-flow management. Next watchpoints: UAE’s recovery track and any COE pull-back in Singapore. Stay nimble, stay ahead.
国名 | Country name | April | May | Percentage change |
ロシア | RUSSIA | 16,157 | 16,125 | -0.2% |
アラブ首長国連邦 | UAE | 26,148 | 21,333 | -18.4% |
モンゴル | Mongolia | 8,379 | 5,308 | -36.7% |
タンザニア | Tanzania | 8,078 | 8,500 | 5.2% |
ニュージーランド | NEW ZEALAND | 7,286 | 6,019 | -17.4% |
バングラデシュ | BANGLADESH | 1,644 | 2,050 | 24.7% |
フィリピン | PHILIPPINE | 3,632 | 3,513 | -3.3% |
タイ | Thailand | 4,547 | 5,888 | 29.5% |
ケニア | KENYA | 6,039 | 7,373 | 22.1% |
ジャマイカ | JAMAICA | 1,722 | 2,971 | 72.5% |
南アフリカ共和国 | SOUTH AFRICA | 5,826 | 5,786 | -0.7% |
マレーシア | MALYSIA | 3,293 | 2,246 | -31.8% |
チリ | CHILE | 7,331 | 5,816 | -20.7% |
ウガンダ | Uganda | 3,873 | 2,689 | -30.6% |
オーストラリア | AUSTRALIA | 1,444 | 1,692 | 17.2% |
ザンビア | Zambia | 1,452 | 1,270 | -12.5% |
英国 | United Kingdom | 1,885 | 2,566 | 36.1% |
アメリカ合衆国 | United states of america | 1,609 | 1,552 | -3.5% |
モザンビーク | Mozambique | 1,457 | 1,149 | -21.1% |
ガイアナ | Guyana | 2,147 | 2,223 | 3.5% |
コンゴ民主共和国 | Democratic Republic of the Congo | 1,141 | 1,170 | 2.5% |
アイルランド | Ireland | 1,129 | 1,046 | -7.4% |
ミャンマー | Myanmar | 200 | 204 | 2.0% |
ナイジェリア | Nigeria | 2,541 | 2,173 | -14.5% |
ジョージア | Georgia | 1,410 | 1,293 | -8.3% |
フィジー | Fiji | 697 | 767 | 10.0% |
ガーナ | Ghana | 1,868 | 1,824 | -2.4% |
シンガポール | SINGAPORE | 383 | 148 | -61.4% |
ジンバブエ | Zimbabwe | 1,044 | 1,102 | 5.6% |
バハマ | Bahamas | 552 | 969 | 75.5% |
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The Japan Carrier Team
👉 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
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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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2011年から2023年の統計記事 / 2011–2023 Historical Data Report