There is a difficult road ahead for agricultural machinery sales despite smaller markets staying strong in April, the TMA says
It was another difficult month for tractor sales in April as farmer sentiment worsens off the back of the war in Iran.
There were around 700 units sold across Australia for the month which was 10 per cent below the same month last year.
This brings the year-to-date figure to a level which is 8.5 per cent below last year.
The strongest rise for the month came in Victoria, where sales were 23 per cent higher than April 2025.
In the smaller markets of Northern Territory and Tasmania, there were 62.5 per cent and 50 per cent rises respectively when compared to this time last year.
Both of those markets also remain ahead of 2025 on an overall year-to-date basis, as does South Australia despite a drop in April.
Otherwise, all four reporting categories showed solid declines during April – albeit with the largest 200hp plus category remaining ahead of 2025 on a year-to-date basis – and the remaining major states were significantly down also.
In other machinery categories, Combine Harvesters were again minimal during April. Baler sales enjoyed another rise of 17 per cent on the same month last year and are now 20 per cent up for the year to date.
Sales of out-front mowers were 3 per cent down compared to April 2025 and sales of self-propelled sprayers were down 33 per cent compared to the same month last year.
There has been considerable reporting in the mainstream media around fuel and fertiliser shortages.
This is leading to farmers reducing plantings and with some struggling to operate.
The TMA’s own surveys reinforce this and, not surprisingly, demand for new machinery is likely to remain subdued for some time to come.
With reports of dry conditions in parts of New South Wales also coming through, this weakness will only become more acute.
The annual TMA conference will be held this year at the Brighton Beach Hotel in Sydney on Wednesday July 29.
The theme for this year’s event is “building better businesses through people, innovation and strategy” and the lineup of speakers has now been announced.
More details about this year’s lineup are available here.
Visit www.tma.asn.au to purchase tickets or follow the TMA on Facebook and LinkedIn.
