Commercial vehicle registrations dipped 8.6% in January, but the rolling year was up 14.2% to 301,400, according to data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

Truck registrations were up 45.4% at 3,586 in the month and 24.6% to 44,063 in the rolling year.

Van registrations were down 16.4% to 14,338 in January, but up 12.6% to 257,337 in the rolling year.

"The commercial vehicle market got off to a mixed start in January with very strong truck registrations outweighed by a fall in the van market," said Paul Everitt, SMMT chief executive.

 "Over the course of 2012 SMMT expects the CV market to be steady, ending the year marginally up on 2011.

"Government support for business will be key to maintaining market stability.

"If confidence can be maintained through the year, we should see growth in 2013."

January’s van registrations opened 2012 on a cautious note.

At 14,338 it was below SMMT’s recently revised forecasts of 17,000 for the month, down 16.4% on January 2011 (which was up near 50% on January 2010).

If the year pans-out as expected, van registrations will be stable in very weak economic and uneasy financial settings, said the SMMT.