TRACTOR SALES DECLINE IN ALL AREAS OF UK

Last week, we reported how the AEA had announced that the number of agricultural tractors registered in the UK in the first half of 2024 was 13% lower than in January to June 2023.

Now the Association has revealed how trends varied between different regions of the UK and power bands.

In terms of regions, all parts of the UK saw fewer tractors being registered in the first half of 2024 than a year earlier.

Agricultural economist at the AEA, Stephen Howarth, said, "The biggest declines were in the South of England, particularly in the South West (-29%) and the Home Counties (-43%). In contrast, there were only small falls (-2%) recorded in Scotland and Northern Ireland, as well as in the North East of England. Wales and the Midlands were between those two extremes, with declined slightly slower than across the UK whole."

Whilst in terms of power bands there was a clear divide between the highest-powered machines and the rest of the tractor market.

Stephen explained, "The number of tractors over 260hp registered was up by over 40%, compared with a year earlier. In contrast, there were nearly 20% fewer machines logged below that level (but above 50hp), with declines fairly evenly spread across the remainder of the power range. As a result, the over 240hp category accounted for 15% of all registrations so far this year, up from just 10% 12 months ago.

"With growth limited to the top end of the power range, the average power of agricultural tractors registered in the first half of 2024 increased significantly. In fact, it topped 180hp for the first time, at 180.7hp, up from 173.5hp a year before. That is the second successive sizeable year-on-year rise, with the average figure for January to June 2022 only 166.2hp."