TRACTOR SALES RISE SHARPLY IN APRIL

According to figures released by the AEA, UK registrations of agricultural tractors (over 50hp) in April were up sharply, reversing the trend of the first three months of the year.

At 1,606 machines, the total was up by 35.1% on April 2018 and was the highest April figure since 2012.

Stephen Howarth, agricultural economist at the AEA, explained the figures saying, "Timing differences due to system changes implemented during the month, may have exaggerated the rise. However, even allowing for that, there would still have been a noticeable year-on-year increase in April.

"In part, this may be due to manufacturers bringing machines into the country ahead of the original Brexit date, rather than risk delays at ports or extra costs which might have resulted if the UK had left the EU without a deal. Any machines involved would likely have been registered during April."

The rise in April brings the total number of machines registered in the year to date to 4,273, 4% more than in the first four months of last year. Stephen Howarth said it remains to be seen whether the temporary factors mentioned above will balance out in the coming months.