In August, 60,000 used cars were exported. Which countries did they go to?

[August 2026] China's automobile exports were 1.01 million units, a year-on-year increase of 65.3%, exceeding one million for the third consecutive month; from January to August, the cumulative number was 7.153 million units, a year-on-year increase of 66.7%. This is the big market. The direction of used cars falling on this curve in August is worth dismantling separately.

Russia: The thickest line

·In August, Russia imported 42,900 used cars, with China's share of 29.1%, which translates to approximately 12,500 vehicles (Autostat)·From January to August, Russia imported 75,000 used passenger cars from China, a year-on-year increase of 98%. During the same period, Russia imported 23,000 used passenger cars from South Korea, a year-on-year decrease of 63%. In August, Russia imported passenger cars from China were US$1.45 billion, a month-on-month increase of 4%, setting a new high since October 2024

Between rising and falling, China has surpassed South Korea to become Russia's second largest supplier of used cars. The logic is not complicated: the new car scrapping tax is increased year by year, and buyers are turning to used cars with higher cost performance. However, the age and displacement of China's car sources are just stuck in the preferential policy range, accounting for both ends.

Five countries consume two-thirds

The official statement in the first half of the year was very straightforward. Data from China Automobile Dealers Association: The export of used cars was 325,000 units, US$7.6 billion, a year-on-year increase of 61% and 54% respectively. The half-year scale is close to the full year of 2024 (436,000 units), while the proportion of used cars in new car exports is only about 6.4%. United Arab Emirates, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan together account for 66.9% of total exports. United Arab Emirates will overtake Kyrgyzstan as early as 2024 and become the largest destination for used cars in China.

The structure is also changing:

Vehicles aged 3 to 5 years account for 64% of total exports·The proportion of used new energy vehicles exceeded 30%, a year-on-year increase of 196%

The car age is stuck at 3 to 5 years, which not only meets the entry period of most countries, but also maintains the residual value; acceptance of new energy is being transmitted from new cars to second-hand.

Five lines: Central Asia, Middle East, Africa, Southeast Asia, Latin America

1. Central Asia Line. Horgos is the country's largest land export port for commercial vehicles. In the first eight months, automobile exports increased by 33.3% year-on-year. The main flow to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and re-exports to Russia.

2. Central and Eastern Lines. United Arab Emirates is both a terminal market and the largest entrepot center. Jebel Ali Port undertakes a large number of re-exports.

3. Africa Line. Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, and Egypt are the main battlefields. China's share of used cars in Africa has increased from 1.2% in 2020 to 3.8% in 2024; Nigeria imports about 700,000 cars a year, and used cars account for more than 90%.

4. Southeast Asia Line. The fastest growth rate is mainly in Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines, and importers have begun to handle inland logistics on their own.

5. Latin American line. Chile and Peru have stabilized imports; Brazil has great potential but high tariffs and is still a potential market. Europe is still a niche destination for used China cars due to its high certification costs.

in a word

Second-hand cars went out to sea in August: Russia is increasing volume, Central Asia is maintaining fundamentals, the Middle East is re-exporting, Africa is increasing, and Southeast Asia is accelerating. The real watershed is not where to sell, but who can achieve zero rework at the three barriers of scrapping tax, vehicle age limit, and pre-shipment inspection.

Source: Xiong Yu, digital automobile export

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