Chinese imports continue to grow

Chinese-built caravans and camper trailers continue to steal market share from the until recently booming Australian RV manufacturing industry.

According to ABS data, RV imports from China grew by nine per cent (56 units) in February this year. At the same time imports from other countries including the USA and Poland were down 71 per cent (64 units).

All up, 725 campers and caravans built overseas arrived down under in February. During the same month 1960 RVs were built in Australia, according to Caravan Industry Association of Australia figures.

The average cost of imported RVs has increased by $1700 to $12,100, while the average unit weight has increased from 1370kg in 2018 to 1760kg in February 201 -- suggesting growth in heavier and more expensive imported camper trailers, as well as hybrids and fixed-height caravans.

Queensland-based MDC Campers, which is one of the biggest selling Chinese RV brands in Australia, has seen significant growth in recent times of its growing range of heavier and more expensive hybrids, or hard-walled campers.

Whereas MDC camper trailers range in price from around $10,000 to $25,000, the brand’s orowing range of hybrid campers and off-road caravans start at around $35,000 and go all the way to $100,000-plus for the range-topping 22ft tandem axle van.

“Production has remained steady for us and there has been some increase in the hybrid market,” MDC Chief Financial Officer Richie Fort told caravancampingsales. “Annual production is still well under 3000 units.”

There has also been significant growth in the Chinese caravan market, with major players Snowy River and Goldstar believed to account for around 600 units annually. New brands like Fantasy are also stealing market share from local manufacturers with "hundreds" of sales of Fantasy's range of 12ft-19ft pop-tops and fixed height caravans since launching around 12 months ago, according to Fantasy Caravan’s William He.

Further growth is expected as more new brands and models enter the market, including a new caravan range from Mars Campers and the re-launch of MDC’s AUSRV caravan range later this year, after production is moved from MDC’s Brisbane factory to its Chinese production facility.

According to ABS data, Queensland remains the largest market for caravan trailer imports, accounting for 43% of all units followed by Victoria (23%) and Western Australia (17%).

All up, imported RVs are currently tracking at a rolling annual figure of 10,167 – up seven per cent year-on-year. There were a total of 1791 RVs imported to Australia in the first two months of 2019 – up 14 per cent on the previous year.

The annual number of Chinese-built RVs has more than doubled over the past three years, from around 5000 units to just under $10,000. Over the same period the number of American RVs have more than halved to less than 100.

Imports of UK caravans have similarly plummeted over the same period, from more than 500 annually to current levels of around 100-150. Just 15 UK caravans arrived in Australia in the first two months of 2019.

Despite the growth in imports, Australian RV production remains steady with 23,070 RVs built down under in 2018, according to CIAA figures, along with 679,378 registered RVs recorded last year.