The latest Farm Tractor and Machinery Trade Association (FTMTA) data for July 2024 shows a reduced level of activity in the farm machinery sector in Ireland with new tractor registrations continuing in a downward trend.
The report notes that 237 new tractors were registered in July 2024, which is 13% lower than the same month last year.
There were 1,527 new tractors registered in the seven months of this year, marking a 11% decline
when compared with the same period compared in 2023.
However, the FTMTA said that the numbers of imported used tractors and machines, registered for the first time in Ireland, increased on July 2023 levels.
The most popular power band was the 161 to 200 horsepower (hp) category, which for July 2024 accounted for 21.1% of all new tractor registrations for the month.
Tractors in the power band lower than 100hp accounted for 11.39% of all new tractor registrations, slightly higher than for the same month in 2023.
The over 200hp category now accounts for 13.51% of all new tractors.
The monthly average tractor horsepower figure for July 2024 was higher at 147hp.
Cork continues to deliver the highest number of new tractor registrations by county at 209 units for the year-to-date, while Tipperary is ranked in second place with 136 units followed by Limerick third place at 86 units.
The FTMTA data shows that 264 imported used tractors were first-time registered in Ireland in July 2024, 12 units more than in a year previous.
For the year to date, 1,703 used tractors were imported and registered for the first time, a 9.7% decline.
FTMTA
The report shows that the Irish market for new telescopic loaders reported a 12% increase in July at 93 units, compared 83 units being registered a year previously. The year-to-date market shows a 3.25% increase 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 41 imported used telescopic loaders registered in July 2024.
The Irish wheeled loader market recorded a lower number of new registrations in July 2024 at 10 units, compared with July 2023, while the year-to-date market decreased by 17%.
The position of the smaller Chinese manufactured machines at the lower price and power end of the market again declined marginally to 50% of the total year-to-date new wheeled loader registrations in Ireland.
There were 9 imported used wheeled loaders registered in July 2024.
12 new backhoe loaders were registered in July, up from 10 new machines registered in the same month in 2023, which converted to an 4.35% year-to-date decrease.
There were 9 used backhoe loaders registered in July 2024 in Ireland.
There were 27 new Utility Terrain Vehicles (UTVs) registered in Ireland in July 2024, with just one used imported UTV registered for the first time.
For the year-to-date 230 new UTVs were registered in Ireland
The FTMTA statistics service reports are compiled from monthly raw data received from the Revenue Commissioners.