The Truck Industry Council (TIC) data for January points to a cooling heavy vehicle market, with sales trailing the record-breaking pace set during the same period last year.

A total of 2464 new trucks and vans were delivered, representing an 11.5 per cent decline on the 2786 units sold in January last year. It is worth noting that the first month of the year can be prone to fluctuations due to the holiday period and the rollover of stock between calendar years.

In this case, the downturn is most likely a reflection of ongoing economic pressures, continued market normalisation after several record years, and the industry’s transition to ADR 80/04 (Euro 6) emissions standards.

While year-on-year figures are down, the market remains active, with several key brands maintaining solid momentum despite the softer start to 2026.

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The heavy-duty segment recorded 788 sales for the month, a 12.2 per cent drop from the 898 units delivered in January last year.

Despite the broader slowdown, the top end of the market continues to show resilience, with a number of brands posting notable gains across the month.

Kenworth maintained its market dominance with 196 deliveries, down 9.3 per cent year-on-year. Volvo bucked the segment’s downward trend with 147 sales, up from 128 in January 2025, while DAF more than doubled its January result, climbing from 22 units to 44.

Heavy-duty truck sales – January 2026

Kenworth: 196
Volvo: 147
Isuzu: 124
Scania: 63
DAF: 44
Fuso: 42
Mack: 41
Mercedes-Benz: 34
UD Trucks: 24
Hino: 23
MAN: 15
Western Star: 13
Freightliner: 11
Iveco: 9
Dennis Eagle: 2

The medium-duty segment remains the most challenged part of the market, finishing January with just 292 sales. This represents a sharp 38.1 per cent decline compared to the 472 units sold in the same month last year.

The contraction reflects a longer-term shift within the freight sector, as operators increasingly favour light-duty trucks for urban work or heavy-duty vehicles for higher-capacity transport tasks.

Isuzu continued its dominance of the segment, accounting for more than half of all medium-duty deliveries with 148 units.

Medium-duty truck sales – January 2026

Isuzu: 148
Fuso: 63
Hino: 51
Hyundai: 12
Mercedes-Benz: 8
MAN: 3
Volvo: 2
Iveco: 2
DAF: 2
UD Trucks: 1