Another sizeable drop in agricultural machinery sales occurred to finish 2024, according to Tractor and Machinery Association sales data, although small tractors bucked the trend
December saw a continuation of a trend from throughout 2024, with generally lower sales figures occurring across the entire market.
These December figures also enable a full picture of the 2024 calendar year of sales to be compared to 2023, showing a full year of market data.
With just over 1,000 tractors sold during December 2024, which is 9 per cent below the same month in 2023, it means 2024 has ended with just on 11,000 tractors sold.
This annual figure is 23 per cent below the previous year.
In financial terms though, the picture is not quite so grim.
Overall turnover was 15 per cent down compared to 2023, which is a result of a comparatively modest drop in the more expensive 200hp-plus category compared to the smaller ranges.
The size of the tractor market has fluctuated wildly over the past few years although, interestingly, the long-term average for the period 1989 to 2023 is just on 11,000 units, meaning the 2024 total was in line with the long-term average.
What is changing though is the variety of products being sold, with nearly 700 makes and model combinations now being reported in sales figures.
Looking at the state-by-state picture, all states were down for the month.
Queensland was behind by 7 per cent against the same month in December 2023, putting the state’s sales 29 per cent behind for the year.
Victoria reported a drop of 5 per cent for the month to be down 19 per cent compared with the previous year’s sales figures.
Western Australia was off 12 per cent against December 2023 to end the year 11 per cent behind.
South Australia had another decline of 11 per cent for the month to be down 33 per cent for the year.
Tasmania was off 36 per cent for the month, with sales in the Northern Territory finishing 44 per cent down for December.
Sales in each of the reporting categories were off this month, except for the small, under-40hp (under 30kW) category, which was up 14 per cent compared to December 2023 but still finished 18 per cent behind for the year.
The 40hp to 100hp (30–75kW) range was down, this time by 15 per cent, and ended the year behind 32 per cent.
The 100hp to 200hp (75–150kW) category reported a drop of 14 per cent for the month, which meant an overall decline of 22 per cent compared to 2023 figures.
Finally, the 200hp-plus (150kW-plus) range was 14 per cent down compared to the same month in 2023 and ended the year behind by this same amount.
It wasn’t just tractors that did it tough in December. Sales of combine harvesters ended the year in poor shape, which means the year’s overall sales were 35 per cent behind the 2023 figures.
With fewer than 700 combines sold for the year, 2024 ended a run of three consecutive years of 1,000 units being sold.
Baler sales were well down in the month and finished the year 11 per cent behind.
Sales of out-front mowers were a bright spot for the month, being up again, but finished the year 22 per cent behind 2023’s numbers.
Planning is under way for the 2025 TMA Conference, which will be held on Thursday July 24 at the Hyatt Essendon Fields in Melbourne.
The TMA expects to have its sponsorship prospectus available soon, giving interested companies a great chance to get involved.
More details about the conference will become available at www.tma.asn.au and you can also follow the TMA on Facebook and LinkedIn.