TRACTOR SALES SHARPLY DOWN IN FEBRUARY

According to the figures released by the AEA for the month of February 2019 there were 480 registrations of agricultural tractors (over 50hp), which is down 17.8% on the same month a year ago.

Stephen Howarth, agricultural economist at the AEA said, "For the second month in a row, UK registrations of agricultural tractors (over 50hp) were sharply down on a year earlier in February. Only 480 machines were registered during the month, the lowest figure for any month since December 2010 and 18% down on the same month last year.

"Nevertheless, as February is usually the quietest month for registrations, it remains to be seen whether this downturn will be sustained. One possibility is that farmers are cautious about making investments until the Brexit uncertainty is resolved but the situation will be clearer once figures for March are released.

"Total registrations for the first two months of the year were down 13% (172 machines) at 1,110 units. Registrations of compact tractors (50hp and under) were also down, by 19% year on year, but the rate of decline slowed to 3% in February."