Wholesale used van prices rose in September

Manheim’s latest monthly van Market Analysis reports that, at £2,929, the average wholesale used van sale price was up 4.8% (£135) in September compared with August. This rise, the first in seven months, compares with a 4.9% (£143) fall in August and is largely in line with seasonal expectations. Overall volumes in the van sector continued this year’s trend of being significantly higher than the same period last year – up by 23%, on a par with the 2008 average.

Average month-on-month values rose in four segments in September. Car Derived Vans were up by 7.7% (£147), Small Panel Vans were up by 6.6% (£235), Messing Units rose by 7.9% (£173) and 4x4s rose by 8.3% (£336). Examples of falls in average month-on-month values included Large Panel Vans (< 3.0t) down by 0.8% (£24), Large Panel Vans (> 3.0t) down by 4.9% (£160) and Tippers down by 7.1% (£272).

CV Live sales also saw an increase in values. Average month-on-month values in September rose by 10.4% (£350) to £3,721 compared with a 9.3% (£347) fall in August. CV Live connects trade buyers via the internet to a live auction and allows them to bid and buy vans and trucks while competing with buyers actually in the auction halls of each of Manheim’s seven dedicated CV centres,

Commenting on the September report, Alex Wright, Sales Director, Commercial Vehicles, Manheim Auctions said: “The increase in values is encouraging but, as with the car market, macro-economic uncertainty means it would be wrong to take too much out of one month’s figures. With daily rental fleets now reducing de-fleet volumes and many contract hire vendors reporting an increase in the number of extensions, there is also some uncertainty as to what impact that may have on volumes in the market. There may also be a trend towards an ageing van profile over the next 12 months, with correspondingly higher mileages, which would logically see lower average sale values.”