HIGH-POWER TRACTORS SHOW MOST GROWTH

The AEA has released data that reveals how tractor sales so far this year break down by power and region.

Last week we reported on the Association's analysis of UK agricultural tractor registrations for June, which completed the picture for the first half of 2023. The number of agricultural tractors registered during the first six months of the year totaled 6,777, 6% more than in the same period last year. 

In terms of power, the AEA says most of the growth was for machines of over 160hp. Stephen Howarth, agricultural economist at the AEA, said, "Registrations of these high-power tractors were up by more than a quarter, compared with a year earlier. In contrast, the number of machines below that level was 11% lower than in January to June 2022.

"Given the supply chain disruptions which the industry has experienced recently, these trends may be driven mainly by the availability of tractors of different powers, so might not accurately reflect current demand."

At regional level, the Association says growth in registrations was mainly found in the South and East of England. 

Stephen Howarth explained, "In percentage terms, the fastest increase was in the Home Counties (+20%) but that region accounts for only a small share of the national total. The biggest rise in the number of tractors registered was in the South West region (+12%).

"Registrations rose more slowly in Scotland (+4%) and were lower than a year before in Northern Ireland, Wales and the North West of England."