Sales of tractors and combine harvesters down on last year

Tractor sales in 2015 are expected to be 10% down on last year‚ while approximately 25% fewer combine harvester are expected to move.

That’s according to South African Agricultural Machinery Association chairman Wynn Dedwith‚ who said “May tractor sales of 355 units were significantly — 9% — lower than the 392 units reported sold” in the same month last year”.

“May combine harvester sales of 16 units were also significantly down on the 36 units sold in May last year‚” Dedwith said‚ adding that on a year-to-date basis‚ sales are almost 40% down on last year.

While market conditions have not changed significantly in the last month‚ Dedwith said that “many farmers are still harvesting their summer crops” and a “wait-and-see attitude in the market still prevails”.

“Nevertheless‚ the market is surprisingly buoyant‚ although still very competitive‚” said Dedwith.