Figures for December show that the month was particularly challenging for the overall market, with a 15.8% decline to 19,384 units.

Truck registrations were up 6.4% in 2012 to 45,702 units, but down 22.4% in the month of December to 3,579 units.

Van registrations didn’t fare so well and were down 7.9% for the January-December period to 239,641 units while there was a 14.2% decline for the month of December.

‘While 2012 has been a challenging year for the UK commercial vehicle market with heavy trucks the only sector performing positively during the year,’ said Paul Everitt, SMMT chief executive. ‘The commercial vehicle market ended 5.9% down on 2011 as business confidence wavered. Vans have struggled all year with just under 240,000 registered while truck volumes tailed-off towards the end of the year. We look forward to 2013 being a better year for the commercial vehicle market with a host of new products and innovative technologies boosting registrations.’