Sales of new tractors booming with figures showing healthy rise

Farm machinery dealers have enjoyed a good first quarter with a 13% increase in sales of new tractors, according to new figures.

Data from the Agricultural Engineers’ Association (AEA) reveals the number of new tractors, over 50 horsepower (hp), registered between January and March was 3,259.

This is up 12.7% on the first quarter of 2020 when 2,893 tractors were registered.

AEA agricultural economist, Stephen Howarth, said sales in March were up 15% on the year with 2,085 tractors registered.

“Indeed, it was the highest monthly total for any month since March 2012 and the first time over 2,000 machines have been registered in a single month in that time,” added Mr Howarth.

Looking more closely at the first quarter figures, he said the biggest increase in sales occurred in Northern Ireland where 63% more tractors were sold, followed by the north-east of England which experienced a 34.4% increase in registrations. Sales in Scotland were up 3.7% to 396 tractors, accounting for 12.1% of all tractors registered in the UK.

Tractors in the 161200hp range accounted for the bulk of UK registrations, at 670 tractors, although registrations within this power range were back 5.4% on the year.

The power range experiencing the biggest growth in the quarter was 121-140hp – up by 51.6% on the year – while sales of 241-320hp tractors were up 29.9% to 226.

New tractor sales are up all around the country.