Japanese Cars continue to Dominate Car Imports

  • Toyota remains most imported vehicle brand 
  • More travellers used Kazungula Bridge in Q2 2022

GAZETTE REPORTER

In the second quarter (Q2) of 2022, a total of 7,727 motor vehicles were recorded on first registration in Botswana, most of which were of Japanese origin.

The period under review ended 30 June 2022.
According to a recent report by Statistics Botswana titled “Transport and Infrastructure Statistics of Q2 2022,” vehicles originating from Japan accounted for 69.7 percent of total motor vehicles on first registration.

“South African vehicles constituted 20.2 percent of total motor vehicles followed by those originating from within Botswana at 5.0 percent,” reads the report.

It also shows that used vehicles, at 79.9 percent, made up the majority of motor vehicles on first registration. “Brand new and rebuilt ones constituted 20.0 and 0.1 percent respectively,” says the report.

“Toyota brand vehicles, though having declined by 17.0 percent in the quarter, were the majority among the first registrations and constituted 27.2 percent of the total. Mazda brand followed with 13.5 percent.”

Meanwhile, a total of 77,151 people used Kazungula Bridge in Q2 2022. “This was an increase of 47.5 percent from 52,320 people recorded in the previous quarter,” says the report.

“Arrivals constituted 52.5 percent of total movements on the bridge while departures made up 47.5 percent of the total. Non-citizens made up 89.2 percent of the arrivals and 87.4 percent of the departures.”

Statistics Botswana says 235,051 net tonnes of goods were transported by railway in Q2 2022 compared to 228,597 in Q1 2022, an increase of 2.8 percent. Total exports constituted 41.8 percent of the total, of which 72.7 percent were exports to the South and 27.3 percent to the North.

“Total imports made up 24.2 percent of goods transported through the railway whilst transit traffic constituted 17.8 percent,” the report says.

Further, the report shows that revenue generated from the transportation of goods through railway increased by 19.5 percent from the amount generated in the previous quarter.

“Exports and imports generated 43.7 percent and 22.3 percent of total revenue respectively,” it reads.

“Revenue generated during the month of June constituted 39.9 percent of the total revenue while April and May accounted for 32.0 and 28.1 percent respectively.”