The latest Farm Tractor and Machinery Trade Association (FTMTA) Statistics Service Report for August 2024 shows a reduced level of activity in the farm machinery sector in Ireland with new tractor registrations continuing in a downward trend.
The numbers of imported used tractors and machines, registered for the first time in Ireland, decreased compared with the same month of August 2023.
The August 2024 new tractor market at 111 units was 21% lower compared with the same month in 2023.
There were 1,638 new tractors registered in the year-to-date, a 12% decline compared with the first eight months of 2023.
Co. Cork continues to deliver the highest number of new tractor registrations at 213 units for the year-to-date, while Tipperary is ranked in second place with 144 units followed by Wexford third place at 93 units.
The most popular power band was the 161hp to 200hp category, which for August 2024 accounted for 23.02% of all new tractor registrations for the month.
Tractors in the power band lower than 100hp accounted for 8.97% of all new tractor registrations, slightly lower than for the same month in 2023. The over 200hp category now accounts for 12.69% of all new tractors.
The monthly average tractor horsepower figure for August 2024 was higher at 148hp and the largest tractor registered was rated at 411hp.
The FTMTA data shows that 203 imported used tractors were first-time registered in Ireland in August 2024, one unit more than in August 2023.
For the year to date, 1,906 used tractors were imported and registered for the first time, a 8.8% decline.
FTMTA data on loaders
The Irish market for new telescopic loaders reported a 49% decline in August 2024 at 27 units compared with August 2023 when 53 units were registered, according to the FTMTA.
The year-to-date market shows a 2.14% decrease in registrations. The two leading brands JCB and Manitou account for 71% of the total new market, while Kramer is ranked third with a 12% market share.
There were 39 imported used telescopic loaders registered in August 2024.
The Irish wheeled loader market recorded a lower number of new registrations in August 2024 at 6 units, compared with August 2023, while the year-to-date market decreased by 166%.
The position of the smaller Chinese-manufactured machines increased marginally to 53% of the total year-to-date new wheeled loader registrations in Ireland.
There were four imported used wheeled loaders registered in July 2024.
Meanwhile, there were two new backhoe loaders registered in August 2024 compared with August 2023 when 11 new machines were registered, which converted to an 81% year-to-date decrease.
There were five used backhoe loaders registered in August 2024 in Ireland.
There were 11 new UTVs registered in Ireland in August 2024, with just two used imported UTV registered for the first time. For the year-to-date, 241 new UTVs were registered.
The FTMTA has stated that its Statistics Service Reports are compiled from monthly raw data received only from the Irish Revenue Commissioners, which is responsible for all first-time registrations of new and used vehicles in Ireland.