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Cheering the old and planning the new...
Page 86
Page 87
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British Car Auctions has seen used light CV sales set a new record and demand for HGVs continuing to outstrip supply. Duncan Ward, BONs UK business development manager for CVs, reports.
Whatever the reasons — low interest rates or the booming small business sector—sales of light vans have been exceptional throughout the year.Trade and end-users have been out in force this month, bidding strongly across a range of vehicles and keeping prices firm.
BCA is keeping buyers focused with a series of special sales, including a successful 'Red, White & Blue' light CV sale at Blackbushe on 2 December that featured additional vehicles from Royal Mail and Lombard, and a special event at Glasgow— a real hotspot for demand at the moment— with additional stock from the Royal Mail and other local vendors on offer.
The late-year/low-mileage market continues to be short of good quality clean stock, so any examples tend be tussled over by buyers. Despite the many incentives in the new market, nearly new prices can still take off like a rocket.
Where low mileage isn't available buyers will go for more travelled examples in excellent condition. Over the past few weeks we've seen strong demand for vehicles to serve the delivery and produce sectors, with Luton and fridge vans selling well. Interest in carsized vans has slowed a little as Christmas approaches, but the signs are this will pick up quickly in the new year.
Panel vans have been selling well all year, with buyers attracted to anything that's a little different in terms of specification, trim and colour — in fact anything unusual can make significantly above expectations.
Engine power is a crucial factor for buyers; in general the greater the power the more desirable the van.
Any CV that could play a role in the construction and related industries is sought after, so tippers, dropsides and cranes continue to dowel!, as they have done all year, and LWB panel vans will be snapped up if they're clean and straight.
Too little stock
The HGV market is very short of clean stock; late-model, low-mileage heavies will find an eager audience at remarketing time. The UK trade traditionally slows a little in the Christmas period, but there's still plenty of interest in the export markets.
In fact, the export trade has been strong all year. Daf 85CF and MAN tractor units have found homes in Eastern Europe throughout 2004; B CA has also seen strong demand from Sri Lanka, the Caribbean and Africa. The Malaysian marketplace takes a steady supply of 6x2 Volvo FL1Os and FMs, alongside the older 6x2 Scania R.113s and R142s.
Light and middleweight curtainsiders are fetching a premium, but they must be in good condition and not signwritten. In fact anything clean and tidy in the middleweight 15-18-tonne sector is in demand, particularly vehicles suited to dry freight.
Tandem and triaxle platform trailers and rigids are making good money when presented well, and with plenty of demand from the heavy haulage market prices are likely to remain firm into the new year. The Christmas market traditionally boosts interest in 7.5tonne box vans and these are currently in short supply. although more stock will be available early next year.
Demand remains high for unusual stock such as skip-loaders and tipper grabs, but the summer upsurge in demand in the utility/ engineering sector for six and eight-wheel tipper grabs has fallen dramatically, with prices down as much as 13.000 from the height of the market.
The single most important price-defining factor across all sectors of the CV market is condition. If sellers get that right, there will be no shortage of buyers for their stock. •