Tractor sales were down again in August with around 550 machines sold. This was 21% down on the same month last year and is now down 12% on a year-to-date basis.
It appears that farmers are generally experiencing positive conditions there remain many headwinds to encourage investment in machinery. High input costs such as fertiliser and fuel continue to weigh heavily and, as we have seen many times in the past, the continued uncertainty around government tax policy, interest rate expectations and inflationary pressures all serve to dampen demand. There have been several attempts to “call the bottom of the current cycle both locally and international however, a return to positive territory remains some months off.
All states reported declines or breakeven in the month, some dramatically so and, all machine reporting categories were down.
Tractor sales in detail
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In other machinery categories, Combine Harvesters saw 42 units sold bring the year-to-date figure to a level 40% down on the same time last year. Clearly, it looks like being a tough year for Combines also.
Baler sales were in line with the same time last year and are now 9.4% up year to date.
Sales of Out-Front Mowers were dropped and are now 3% ahead YTD and finally, sales of Self-Propelled (SP) Sprayers reported a strong lift, up 36% compared to August last year.
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