The latest figures from the AEA (Agricultural Engineers Association) show that 1,187 new (agricultural) tractors were registered in the UK in June of this year.
That’s 14.4% higher than the figure for June of last year (2017).
It brings the year-to-date tally for the UK (January-to-June inclusive) up to 6,530 units. That’s up 6.3% compared with the same period of 2017.
An AEA spokesperson explained: “For the third month in a row UK registrations of agricultural tractors (over 50hp) showed double-digit percentage growth, compared with a year earlier.
“During the month of June, 1,187 [new] machines were registered. That’s 14% more than in the same month of last year. This brings the total for the first half of the year to 6,530 units, which is nearly 400 more than January-to-June 2017.”
Looking back to May, 1,222 new units (tractors) were sold during that month. That was 21.2% higher than the figure recorded for May of 2017. At that time the AEA commented: “The brief slowdown in UK agricultural tractor (over 50hp) registrations recorded in February and March seems to be well and truly over.
“Registrations in May were over 20% up on the same month of last year. It was the highest May figure since 2014.”
Worldwide tractor sales
In related news, over 2.1 million new tractors were sold across the world in 2017. That’s according to a report in Profi – the well-known farm machinery publication.
The report indicates that last year’s estimated figure was 13% higher than that for 2016 (1.9 million units).
The data ultimately came from Agrievolution Alliance; it compiles data on tractor and equipment sales around the world – charting trends from one year to the next.
The data reportedly shows that new tractor sales grew by 16% in both China and India. Together, these two markets accounted for more than one million units (490,000 in China and 600,000 in India).
Meanwhile, the US market stood at 220,000 units (an increase of 4% over 2016 levels).
Here in Europe, 190,000 new tractors were sold last year; that’s up 13%. In the European agricultural tractor market, Germany and France are typically the two biggest buyers.