December’s tractor sales figures have been bolstered by a rush on big tractors, a result which also lifted the total dollar value
December saw further declines in tractor sales across Australia with around 1,100 units being sold for the month, which is 35 per cent behind the same month in 2022.
This brings the annual figure to around 14,500 units, which is 25 per cent behind what had been posted the previous year.
The picture is a little brighter in dollar terms though, with sales values for December being 13 per cent ahead of the same month in 2022.
The annual figure ends 14.5 per cent behind the previous year in dollar terms, demonstrating that the biggest declines have occurred in the smaller size ranges.
Falls were experienced in all machine categories except for the 200hp plus (150kW plus) range, which was up an incredible 117 per cent on the same month in 2022 to finish off the year 6 per cent behind overall.
Much of the activity for larger tractors appears to have occurred in Western Australia, where a late rush to deliver machines by the year’s end has clearly been in play.
The small, under-40 hp (30kW) category was down by a whopping 56 per cent for the month and ended the year 30 per cent behind 2022.
This ‘leisure’ market has long been considered susceptible to interest rate rises and there is no doubt that buyers have felt the pinch in this regard, particularly in Victoria.
The 40hp to 100hp (30-75kW) range was also down 45 per cent on the previous December and finished 28 per cent behind for the year.
Lastly, the 100hp to 200hp (75-150kW) category was down 37 per cent for the month and ended the year 26 per cent behind on 2022 figures.
Looking around the nation, all states experienced significant drops again in December.
Queensland was down 33 per cent against the same month in 2022 and finished 23 per cent behind for the year.
New South Wales had a monthly drop of 35 per cent and ended 27 per cent behind the previous year.
In Victoria, the monthly total was behind by 49 per cent while the year’s sales ended 31 per cent behind compared to 2022.
Sales in Western Australia were down 8 per cent for the month and ended 18 per cent behind last year.
South Australia was down 15 per cent against December 2022 and was 16 per cent behind on the full year.
Tasmanian sales were down 30 per cent for the month and 22 per cent for the year, while sales in the Northern Territory finished 19 per cent down for the year.
Combine harvester sales finished the year strongly, taking the full year tally to just under 1,100 units.
While this was down 7 per cent on 2022, it has been another strong year for combines in support of what has been a big harvest season.
Baler sales continued their up and down run, down 20 per cent for the month when compared to December 2022, however the annual tally was a mere two units below the previous year.
Sales of out-front mowers were down by around 9 per cent compared with the same time last year.
For some time, the TMA has been forecasting a return to more normal sales volumes following two years of unprecedented activity.
The outlook for 2024 suggests more of the same, however with the El Niño effect not currently what was expected, and combined with ongoing supply chain challenges, accurate forecasting is as difficult as it has ever been.
Conference confirmed
This year’s TMA conference is scheduled to take place on Thursday July 18 and will be held at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground, a venue the association last visited in 2017.
Details regarding the event will be announced during the next few months with ticket sales likely to commence in April.
This promises to be another great event, so please save the date.