Demand for buying new trucks rose sharply in the second quarter

The demand for new trucks in the second quarter grew 14 times year on year, and the average prices for equipment continue to increase, follows from the statistics of requests for Avito. The most popular, in addition to KamAZ, are Chinese brands. However, the dynamics of exchange rates in July has already reduced interest in purchases, dealers say. Analysts, however, note that in the second half of the year demand is always more active and the market is likely to continue to recover.

The demand for new trucks in the second quarter increased 14 times compared to the second quarter of 2022, Avito Spetstechnika experts calculated based on search queries on the marketplace. Requests for used equipment increased by 20.9%. Among the regions of the Russian Federation, the demand for new trucks grew most actively in Moscow and the Moscow region (more than 30 times), and for used cars – in Tatarstan (by 61.3%).

The average price for a new freight transport in April-June amounted to 9.3 million rubles. against 9.2 million rubles. in the first quarter, for vehicles with mileage – 1.8 million rubles. against 1.7 million rubles.

Dmitry Babansky from SBS Consulting notes that the growth rate of the market for new trucks in the second quarter is due to the low base effect of the same period last year, when investment in vehicles was suspended. At the same time, the second quarter is generally not the period of the highest demand, he continues: “As a rule, sales in the third and fourth quarters are higher, especially towards the end of the year, when the budgets are closed.”

As Kommersant wrote on June 7, truck sales are actively recovering from the decline in 2022, showing growth every month. According to the results of five months, the Russian market grew by 56.4%, to 49.9 thousand units, according to Avtostat (the latest up-to-date statistics). At the same time, in April-May, sales were at the level of 11.3-11.8 thousand cars per month. Demand began to accelerate back in March, when 11.3 thousand trucks were sold. Avtostat, like Avito Spetstechnika, takes into account not only heavy trucks (from 14–16 tons), but also all trucks from 3.5 tons, except for LCVs.

Among the new models in the second quarter, the most popular were Shacman X3000 and KamAZ 43118 with an average cost of 9.3 and 9.5 million rubles. respectively. Also in the top 5 in terms of popularity were Sitrak C7H (11 million rubles), KamAZ 65115 (11.3 million rubles) and Howo (8.4 million rubles). In the used truck segment — KAMAZ 65115 (2.9 million rubles), light truck Hyundai HD78 (1.6 million rubles), KamAZ 55111 (550 thousand rubles), GAZ Valdai (800 thousand rubles) and Mitsubishi Fuso Canter (1.8 million rubles). Shacman X3000 also entered the top 10 used trucks, although the brand entered the market leaders only after the crisis began – against the backdrop of the departure of the “European seven” due to sanctions restrictions.

Now the volume of demand remains at the same level, and customers are still interested in 4×2 mainline tractors, as well as 6×4 tractors and other special trucks (tractors, dump trucks, vans, etc.), says Ilya Molchanov, head of the Kotlyakovka Avtospectsentr company.

“However, we are seeing consumer caution in connection with the growth of the yuan against the ruble. Clients are waiting for changes in the situation with currency fluctuations,” he continues. “A little earlier, with an increase in the exchange rate, demand increased, and everyone was actively buying special equipment. Then the yuan quotes fell, and consumers missed the profit, that is, they bought more expensive than they could, concludes Mr. Molchanov. “Now, remembering this experience, customers associate the growth of the yuan with quarterly closings of transactions and expect the situation to stabilize.”

Sergey Udalov from Avtostat notes that the effect of the exchange rate will appear in the statistics only in July-August, but most likely, sales in the coming months will remain approximately at the current level. “For passenger cars, we are seeing a slow and smooth market recovery, while trucks and LCVs are growing faster as markets are smaller and deliveries are in bulk,” he says. The expert also believes that, given the expansion of the KamAZ line, its market share is likely to grow.

Olga Nikitina