New car registrations in Poland rose 17.7% in July compared with the same month last year prompting industry monitor SAMAR to raise its volume forecast for 2013 by almost 8%, although the figures are affecting by so-called re-exports.
Sales in the country so far this year are running 1.4% ahead although when adjusted for re-exports they are down 2.4% – still far better than most of Europe.
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SAMAR reported that sales of passenger cars and small trucks in July totalled 27,957 – the best July since 2008. It said the rise was largely due to car traders and private buyers purchasing imported cars and then reselling them in Germany or other more developed markets, where prices are high enough to generate a solid return on their re-export.
The industry monitor estimated that about a 10th of newly registered cars could be re-exported, mainly to western Europe. The practice has become steadily more popular due to the zloty currency’s weakness in recent years.
SAMAR said that re-exports give a false impression that the local market is growing, while it is stagnating at best. It said that it now expects 2013 sales to reach 280,000 units.
